Bihar to skip official celebration of International Yoga Day; Nitish Kumar decides to celebrate World Music Day

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has decided not to observe International Yoga Day on June 21, as per a media report.

According to Hindustan Times, Kumar has apparently taken offence to the fact that BJP-led NDA government cold-shouldered his call for total prohibition.

The report said that Bihar government will instead observe World Music Day (coinciding with International Yoga Day) which celebrates ancient Indian art.

JD(U) spokesperson Sanjay Singh was quoted by the Daily as saying, “The Centre is spending huge money on promotion of yoga. It has converted yoga into a political ‘akhara’ (wrestling ground), whereas the fact is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using it for self-branding.”

On the other hand, Kumar had said yesterday that the ancient discipline was 'irrelevant without imposing ban' on sale of liquor across the country and had appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act in this regard.

"Yoga is a natural treatment process but liquor addicts cannot perform it. Yoga would be irrelevant unless a ban is imposed on sale of liquor across the country," he had said at meeting in Jharkhand's Palamau district, as per PTI.

"In a democratic system like ours, welfare of the society should be the priority over trade and business," he had also said, adding that his government had decided to forfeit Rs 5,000 crore revenue being generated by sale of liquor.

As per officials, for the music day celebrations, like every year, classical artistes will perform at a programme in Patna.

“We are not holding any function on yoga but are celebrating the World Music Day, which also falls the same day,” a senior officer of the art, culture and youth affairs department told HT.

Meanwhile, the Bihar unit of BJP said that Kumar’s decision to skip yoga day was 'narrow minded'.

“We (the NDA government) got yoga international recognition, but Nitish Kumar is indulging in petty politics by not organising any event. It only shows his bankruptcy,” senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav was quoted as saying by the Daily.

BJP is reportedly not organising any Yoga programme but Union Ministers Ravishankar Prasad, Giriraj Singh, Ram Kripal Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan are expected to attend separate functions of different organisations in Bihar.

In December 2014, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution with a record number of 177 co-sponsoring member states to establish the International Day of Yoga to be commentated every year on June 21. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join 30,000 people for the second International Yoga Day celebrations in Chandigarh tomorrow to be held amid tight security, with participants being radio tagged to track their movements.

PM Modi will lead the celebrations at Capitol Complex, designed by French architect Le Corbusier.

Over 30,000 people - 10,000 each from the Union Territory Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana - will take part in the event at Capitol Complex and 10,000 at over 100 other locations across the city.

Entry to the venue will start at 4 am and close by 5:30 am through designated entry points. While the main event will begin at 6.30 am, the Common Yoga Protocol will start at 7 am and last for 45 minutes.

(With Agency inputs)