Harsh Sanghavi, the state minister for housing in Gujarat, said on Wednesday that Surat’s Yoga Day event had established a “new Guinness World Record” for the most yoga class attendance in one location.The event attracted more than a lakh participants, breaking the previous record, according to Sanghavi.
Bhupendra Patel, the chief minister of Gujarat, attended the state-wide commemoration of the “International Day of Yoga” in Surat’s Dumas neighbourhood.
In all, 1.25 crore people took part in the Yoga Day celebration at 72,000 venues in the state, Patel said in his address before the commencement of the Yoga Day session.
“The Yoga Day event in Surat has set a new Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people for a yoga session at one place,” Sanghavi said on the occasion.
Patel said Prime Minister Narendra Modi popularised yoga across the world.
“We witnessed how yoga and pranayam helped people during the coronavirus pandemic,” he said.
“In Gujarat, nearly 1.25 crore people have joined the Yoga Day session today from 72,000 locations. In Surat, a world record has been created with the participation of more than one lakh people,” said Patel.
On the occasion, the CM announced that the state government will open 21 ‘Yog Studios’ in near future to popularise yoga.
“The state Yog Board has so far trained 5,000 instructors. In the coming days, the state government is planning to start 21 Yoga Studios in the state,” he said.
While the state-level celebration of International Yoga Day took place in Surat with Chief Minister Patel in attendance, other ministers, MLAs, members of Parliament, and bureaucrats participated in events in various districts.
The state government has chosen 75 “iconic places” around the state to commemorate Yoga Day as the nation marks 75 years of independence. According to a formal statement, these locations include the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, the White Rann of Kutch, and the Modhera Sun Temple.
The events for Yoga Day were also held in a number of towns, cities, colleges, schools, health facilities, police stations, jails, and administrative offices, it was stated.