International Yoga Day: Celebrations to cost Rs 15 crore, half of last year

The celebrations for International Yoga day is expected to cost the the country around Rs 15 crore. The cost has been slashed by half since 2015.

This time, the main event, which is taking place in Chandigarh, has been advertised less in comparison to 2015 when it was celebrated for the first time.

The Ayush ministry, which is the nodal agency for the mega event, has been making arrangements to make the second edition of the Yoga Day a success nationwide.

The ministry secretary Ajit M. Sharan told the Asian Age, “The cost for the whole event is Rs 15 crore, this includes the cost of mats, LED screens, PR for the event and all the other sundry expenses for International Yoga day.”

The Ayush ministry had faced flak for the exorbitant cost of the mats used in the 2015 event. For the main event in Chandigarh, the ministry has shelled out Rs 7 crore. According to reports, the mats used for the event at Rajpath cost around Rs 96,000.

In 2016 in Chandigarh, a similar amount will be required as around 35,000 people are expected to participate in the event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sources in the NDMC and the Ayush ministry said the main costs for the event have been for advertising and PR.

“The mats, T-shirts and other paraphernalia don’t cost much. The main cost is for the advertisement on all platforms,” said a senior official.

The event, which has been in the news for a while for controversial reasons, has been keeping the New Delhi Municipal Council and Ayush ministry officials on their toes to get the arrangements in place.

The NDMC which is the nodal agency for the Delhi event has made arrangements in the Central Park and other radial roads connecting CP. This time the event will be telecasted in other parks and teachers will also hold the yoga session in NDMC parks.