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UGC does U-turn on Yoga Day event in same circular: 'Hold event, oh wait, date is past' 

Johanna Deeksha

Yes, this is true. No, it isn't a joke. We have proof. On March 13, the University Grants Commission (UGC) released a circular stating that the fourth International Yoga Day would be held on June 21. The circular called for "greater and more active participation of youth". It goes on to elaborate on the activities to be adopted - build a culture and environment for yoga, organise quiz competitions, lecture, special yoga demonstrations, debates, seminars and workshops on Yoga, hold Yogathons, wellness centres, poster presentation and best research paper presentation competitions to mark the occasion.

Then the circular went on to direct the institutes to "give wide publicity" for the celebration with two run-up activities on select dates - March 13 (100 days to the event) and May 2 (50 days to the event).  But then after a while, the UGC seemed to have realised that the circular was being written ON March 13, so they go on to clarify - "Since the first event falls on March 13 itself, it is not possible to organise this event, All the higher educational institutions are requested to undertake all other activities as mentioned previously."

Preparations for Yoga Day might not have started prior to March 15 as the UGC and the government deemed fit, however, the new video 3D video featuring our very own Prime Minister Narendra Modi might repair all the damage. 

Take a look at the video below- 

This new video features a fit Modi as a yoga teacher doing the 'Trikonasana' pose - "the triangle posture". The animated Modi tells the viewers the correct method of doing the 'asana' and then educates you on what parts of the body get benefitted by the yogic asana as well. 

The video is an initiative of BlueKraft Digital Foundation, whose website says that their vision is "To harness Indian talent and to empower Indian society by creating awareness and implementation of out-of-box ideas for social welfare in the fields of education, sports, charity, women and child empowerment, health and sanitation, culture and tourism, economics and finance, education and skills, conservation of environment, digital and social media, diaspora relationships." 

The Prime Minister has however said that he is not a Yoga teacher but someone else had made him one through their creativity but he will be sharing these videos periodically. 

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