Massive preparations underway world-wide ahead of International Yoga Day

Preparations are underway across the nation and abroad to celebrate International Day of Yoga on 21 June.

The main event, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance, will be held in Chandigarh.

The Common Yoga Protocol will begin at 7 am and last for 45 minutes.

In the run up to the celebrations for International Day of Yoga, Yogasanas rehearsals were held at Rajpath and other places in the national capital on 19 June.

Various academic institutions, women's groups, senior citizen enthusiasts clubs have been training their members with regular yogasana sessions every day.

In Himachal Pradesh, the celebrations for second International Yoga Day have begun at various places with Yoga run and Yoga camps in schools.

In Shimla, a preparatory Yoga camp was organised yesterday at Raj Bhawan under the guidance of governor Acharya Devvrat.

The Goa government has decided to appoint yoga trainers in primary and high schools. Addressing a press conference in Panaji yesterday, Chief Minister Lakshmi Kant Parsekar said, these yoga trainers will be appointed on a contractual basis.

He clarified that yoga classes will not be compulsory and facility will be provided as per school demand.

Hundreds of thousands of Yoga lovers from Britain to Australia rolled out mats yesterday to practice complex Yoga postures.

High Commission of India and the Indian government's Tourist Office in London, in collaboration with 14 British Yoga institutions organised the day-long event at Potters Fields Park, near the iconic Tower Bridge.

Over 10,000 people from all walks of life participated in various Yoga and meditation sessions.

In the United States of America, Indian classical dances and demonstration of popular Yoga asanas are being practiced as part of the week-long International Day of Yoga celebrations.

In South Africa, thousands gathered at more than a dozen venues across the country. Yoga and meditation sessions were also organised across major Australian cities including Canberra and Melbourne with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull hailing Yoga as one of India's gifts to the world.

He commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of supporting global peace and well-being.

The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated last year. Yoga Day aims at raising awareness about the benefits of practicing Yoga.