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DD to live telecast and webcast Yoga Day celebrations
NEW DELHI: The largest single Yoga demonstration at a single venue – the Rajpath in Delhi – will be telecast on Doordarshan channels as well as webcast live on the International Day of Yoga on 21 June.
Given the expected large participation at one place of a minimum 35,000, the AYUSH Ministry has applied to the Guinness World Records for “Largest Yoga Demonstration/ Class at single venue.”
A 20-second video animation spot on the logo has been prepared, which is being telecast over Doordarshan and other private cable and satellite channels across the country.
A booklet on Yoga Protocol and a 33 minute DVD of Aasanas, which will be performed at the Rajpath has also been prepared by the Ministry of AYUSH.
In addition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posts a daily tweet on his Twitter account with young persons demonstrating different Yoga postures.
An hour-long programme will be held at Rajpath starting at 6.40 am and will be attended by Modi along with Cabinet Ministers, Minister of States, MPs as well as diplomats and foreign nationals. In all, over 35000 people are expected to take part including students, National Cadet Corps Cadets, Central Reserve Police Force and Yoga Institutions.
Respective Ministries are also issuing a postal stamp and special coins. The coins will be of the denomination of Rs 10 and Rs 100.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced that out of the total of 177 countries, which have given co-sponsorship, 47 countries are from the Organisation of Islamic Countries. They have co-sponsored the event and expressed their desire to participate in the yoga sessions being organised in the Indian Missions.
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.
