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DD to deploy 23 cameras, have LCD screens for live Yoga Day coverage
NEW DELHI: With India aiming to get into the Guinness Book of World Records with the largest number of people performing Yoga at a single venue on the International Day of Yoga, Doordarshan will telecast the event live from Rajpath on the morning of 21 June.
The Delhi Kendra of Doordarshan has deployed around 23 cameras by linking together three OB vans with microwave and OFC cables to cover this mega event.
The live coverage of the event is touted to be totally different from that of the Republic Day Parade that Doordarshan brings annually to India and the world as this would encompass a panoramic view of the happenings at Rajpath.
The logistics involved in the live telecast of upcoming International Day of Yoga are complex, as the area involved stretches for almost 1.5 kms from Rafi Marg to India Gate and will encompass the entire lawns to the north and south of Rajpath.
The 23 Doordarshan cameras being used for the coverage have been placed in strategic positions to cover all the 40,000 participants, and guests led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Doordarshan will use 13 raisers of five feet and ten feet height, which have been covered aesthetically with yoga motifs to place the cameras. Three Jimmy jip cameras, which can provide an aerial view from a height of 40 meters will also be used to add to the visual impact of the coverage.
One of the cameras has been additionally placed at the halfway point on a hydraulic lift, which can go up to about 50 feet high. This camera is at the junction between Rajpath and Janpath and can give the viewer an aerial perspective, covering participants at both ends of the venue. In addition, two cameras will be placed on top of India gate and will give panoramic shots of the central vista.
The coverage will also include the production of a small stage; instructional yoga by experts will be shown by using three cameras and by deploying a fourth OB Van. The output of this OB van will be provided by Doordarshan to the organisers for display on giant LCD screens, adding to the visual impact of the event.
The event will start at 6.20 am with a nine-minute introductory film, welcoming all to the world of yoga and will go on up to 7.45 am or till the end.
Producer Shanti Swaroop Bhakoo from Doordarshan Kendra Delhi, who is heading the team has extensive experience in live OBs like the Republic Day Parade and the Independence Day celebrations.
Over a hundred staff from the programme, engineering, scenic and administrative side are working round the clock to ensure a coverage befitting international standards. All technical operations are being supervised by S.N. Singh, DDG (Engineering).
Doordarshan additional director general Dr Mahesh Joshi will hold overall charge of this historic mega live coverage.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
