LUCKNOW: The day broke as early as 2 am in Lucknow as people of all ages and walks of life were drawn to Ramabai Maidan to join PM Narendra Modi’s yoga camp on the occasion of International Yoga Day on Wednesday.
A drizzle that turned into a downpour delayed the programme by half an hour.
Wearing an Assamese gamochha around his neck, Modi led the celebration, the third edition of International Yoga Day, joined by over 50,000 people who kept him company through an 80-minute Yoga session.
Despite the driving rain, Modi performed aasanas along with UP governor Ram Naik,, chief minister Yogi Adityanath, deputy CMs Keshav Maurya and Dinesh Sharma and the entire UP cabinet.
There were an assortment seers and sadhu types in the camp. People had started thronging the venue since 5 in the morning. However, the programme, which was scheduled to commence at 6 am, started half an hour late due to heavy showers in the state capital.
Addressing the huge gathering, PM Narendra Modi said, “Yoga has connected India with the world as it is immensely popular outside the country. People across the globe are realising the utility of yoga and resorting to it to bring about wellness in their lives."
Expressing happiness over the growing number of yoga institutes that have cropped up during the last three years, PM Modi said the demand for Yoga teachers was increasing across the world.
Massive security arrangements were in place in the state capital in view of the Prime Minister's visit. A huge contingent of police officers and 25 companies of PAC were deployed in and around the camp venue.