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When Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed a desire to declare a day for yoga while addressing to the UN General Assembly, little was known before that about the benefits of yoga. June 21 has been officially adopted as International Day for Yoga.

With the first ‘International Yoga Day’ falling this Sunday, the entire Indian government are preparing for a grand event. The main event will happen at Rajpath which can accommodate a little over 37,500 mats over at stretch of 1,400 m. With the preparation to attract people as much as possible, the organizer aims for a world record. Official in the ministry of AYUSH and in the ministry of youth affairs are confident that the event will be successful.

Apart from India, there will be celebration in 192 countries.

Though the total expenditure is unclear, unofficially it is estimated at Rs 100-odd crore.

AYUSH is issuing ads and has started sending bulk messages urging people to take up yoga.

Approximately 5,000 participants each from Ramdev’s organisation, Art of Living, paramilitary forces, Delhi schools and NCC are going to take part in the event. A thousand from Isha Foundation and 2,000 from Gayatri Parivar along with bureaucrats, ministers and guests are also expected.

-Smrutirekha