Majuli island sets the stage for Yoga Day

Jorhat: In Majuli, four pandals across an area of 90,000 square feet are ready to host the second International Yoga Day celebrations on Tuesday.
The event, organized by the state government, will see CM Sarbananda Sonowal, health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and head priests of all Vaishnavite monasteries on the river island stretch their limbs.
"More than 5,000 people from different parts of the district will take part in the celebrations which will be held on the playground of Majuli College at Doriadubi," Majuli subdivisional officer Narasingh Pawar said on Monday.
The programme will kick off at 6.45am with a 35-minute exercise session which will include 15 yogic postures. The session will include basic asanas such as shalabasana, pawanmuktasana, makarasana, among others. This will be followed by breathing exercises, kapalabhati and pranayama for 15 minutes, followed by meditation for six minutes.
Sonowal visited his constituency Majuli for the first time as chief minister on Monday. He is scheduled to take part in interactions with the people, as well as the satradhikars. He will also inaugurate a felicitation programme for those who have passed the HSLC and HSSLC examinations this year with high marks.
The United Nations (UN) had declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014.
PM Narendra Modi, in his maiden address to the UN general assembly in New York, had suggested June 21 as it is the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.