Make yoga a mass movement: Shripad Naik

AYUSH minister Shripad Naik today urged people to participate in large numbers and make yoga a "mass movement".
"I appeal people from all walks of life to come forward to promote the rich cultural heritage of India, especially yoga, as unifying phenomena throughout the world and make it a mass movement," said Naik at a press conference here.
The Union Minister said that efforts are being made to involve everyone in the Yoga Day celebrations on June 21 down to the block level.
"All State/UT governments have been asked to celebrate the event at the state headquarter, district, block and village level," he said.

To mark the occasion, a two-day international conference on yoga will be held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
"Vice President M Hamid Ansari is expected to inaugurate the conference," Naik told the reporters.

Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher, who also attended the press conference, requested people to "rise above politics" to promote Yoga specially among girls.
Preparations and promotions are in full force to make the second International Yoga Day a grand success.
"An amount of Rs 15 crore is being spent throughout the country for the promotion of Yoga by AYUSH Ministry," said AYUSH secretary Ajit Mohan Sharan.
"The participating institutions, states and corporate bodies are also funding the Yoga Promotion Programmes under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities," he said.