New Delhi, Jun 5, This year’s International Yoga Day (IYD) is set to go digital internationally.
Announcing this, Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, President, Indian Council for Cultural Relation (ICCR) said this year’s event will highlight the utility of yoga for individuals, to develop immunity to combat the global pandemic of Coronavirus and strengthen the community in managing some of the significant aspects of this crisis.
In view of the highly infectious nature of the virus causing Covid-19, there shall be no mass gatherings. Hence, this year the Ministry is encouraging people to practice yoga at their homes with participation from the entire family.
Addressing a joint press conference here on Friday along with the Minister of State for AYUSH, Mr Sahasrabuddhe informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon one and all to participate in the “My Life – My Yoga” video blogging contest.
Through this video blogging competition, the Ministry of AYUSH and ICCR seek to raise awareness about Yoga and to inspire people to prepare for and become active participants in the observation of IDY2020.
Addressing mediapersons here, AYUSH Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said the announcement of the contest by the Prime Minister has generated tremendous curiosity and also interest in it. The AYUSH Ministry is confident that this interest would convert into significant public health gains, as the positive impact of yoga in the management of many aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic situation is by now well accepted.
The contest will contribute hugely in raising global awareness about the healing and therapeutic powers, and transformative impact that yoga can have in their lives, he said, adding all stakeholders like yoga institutes, yoga studios, yoga professionals are being sensitised about the blogging contest through their various platforms including print and electronic media.
Mr Kotecha said the blogging contest has started on various digital platforms such as MyGov.gov.in and shall end on June 15, 2020, after which the jury shall collectively decide and announce the names of the winners.
Entries for video competition can be submitted by participants under three categories covering youth (aged below 18 yrs), adults (above 18 years) and yoga professionals, and further, separately for male and female contestants. This makes it a total of six categories in all. For the India contestants, the top three awardees shall get a prize worth Rs 1 lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 for each of the categories. While global prizes shall be for $2,500, $1500 and $1000.
