The state government is targeting a record turnout of 10 lakh participants across yoga events in Kolkata on Sunday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to lead the International Day of Yoga programme on Red Road. Organisers across the city are keeping an eye on the sky and putting up rain guards, canopies and indoor backup venues in place after Friday’s downpour and a Met yellow alert for the weekend.
Record Participation Expected
Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said the celebrations on Sunday is set to break past records with over 10 lakh people from all wards of Kolkata participating in yoga events. While Red Road will accommodate around 35,000 people, there will be a mass yoga demonstration on 500 boats on the Hooghly on Saturday evening.
In a build-up to the event, Adhikari flagged off a run from KMC headquarters to Writers’ Buildings on Friday morning and participated in a yoga session on the road in front of it. Union minister of state (independent charge) for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, was also present.
Live Telecast and World Cup Matches
The PM’s Red Road event will be telecast live on giant screens at Wood Street-Park Street crossing and at Vardaan Market. These screens will also telecast World Cup matches live on Saturday and Sunday, urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul said.
Rain Contingency Plans
Organisers of various events are keeping alternative arrangements with an eye on the sky following the heavy downpour on Friday. With the Met office issuing a yellow alert for Sunday, they are either arranging for rain guards or shifting the open air sessions indoor. Even events planned on Saturday, especially at city clubs, are also keeping the indoor option ready.
As per the SPG instruction, a canopy is being installed atop the dais that has been set up on Red Road for Modi to lead the yoga programme on Sunday. A high backdrop that had earlier been constructed has also been taken down to prevent the possibility of a collapse should the rain be accompanied by wind gusts.
About 500 workers engaged by different companies have been working round-the-clock in shifts since last Sunday to complete the arrangements at the Red Road venue.
Schools and Clubs Adapt
The rain has prompted several city schools to discard plans to hold open air yoga sessions on the grounds and shift into halls and auditoriums instead. Jadavpur Vidyapith Headmaster Partha Pratim Vaidya said: “We had a plan for an open-air programme for Saturday, but today we decided to shift it to a hall inside.” Mitra Institution, Bhawanipur, headmaster Raja Dey said: “We had a grand celebration planned for two days in the open space on the school campus. However, after today’s heavy rainfall, we are keeping a nearby community hall ready to shift the event there.”
Clubs in the city that have lined up yoga sessions as well are also keeping indoor provisions ready. At Calcutta Rowing Club, the yoga session is planned on the lawn next to the lake. “But should it rain, we will move to a covered house next to the boat house,” said club secretary Chandan Roy Chowdhury.
At Bengal Rowing Club, the officials have decided not to take any chances and allocated three halls for yoga sessions. “We are expecting a turnout of 180-200 members and do not want to shift from one place to another,” said club executive committee member Ujjal Dugar.
Members of Confederation of West Bengal Trade Associations (CWBTA) who are slated to perform yoga at Mohar Kunja, have decided to arrange for a rain cover at the event. “Our team has visited the park today to assess its condition after the downpour. Since there is a yellow alert of rain in the city, we will get the venue ready with a shade,” said Sushil Poddar, president of CWBTA.
