Mumbai: Schools’ plans in place, but will Yoga Day turn into rainy day?

If the heavy monsoon showers continue over the weekend in Mumbai, many schools and colleges said they will be forced to call off or scale down the events planned to mark World Yoga Day on June 21.

If the heavy monsoon showers continue over the weekend in Mumbai, many schools and colleges said they will be forced to call off or scale down the events planned to mark World Yoga Day on June 21.

As yoga requires unobstructed space, large enough for each person to perform various asanas, Mumbai schools are worried they may not be able to call many students if the programmes are held indoors. Most said they will call only a few students on Sunday, so that the celebrations can be held comfortably.

Some schools, such as Christ Church School, Byculla, have put off the celebrations altogether. “As it’s not compulsory, and we have been having rough weather, we cancelled plans to participate in Yoga Day on Sunday,” said Carl Laurie, principal of the school. “We don’t want to trouble students by calling them early in the morning in this weather and even if we do, many will not turn up.”

Other schools, too, have altered their plans. Indian Education Society’s, Sule Guruji School, Dadar, has decided to call only a few students, as they do not have enough space indoors to accommodate all.

“We were initially planning an outdoor event, but since it’s been raining, we may have to take the programmes indoors,” said Meenakshi Walke, principal. “We do not have a big hall, and our auditorium cannot be used as it has immovable furniture. Holding the programmes in the classroom is not an option either,”she said.

Similarly, Minu Madlani, principal, KPB Hinduja College, Charni Road, said they have been unable to fix a venue for the Yoga Day events. “Our NSS, Rotaract and other student bodies are planning to hold the event on a large scale, but because of the rain, we are yet to fix a venue,” said Madlani.

What’s in store

KC College, Churchgate, will hold mass yoga programmes in its indoor sports room. The college plans to call only 200 to 250 students

Balmohan Vidya Mandir, Dadar, will have indoor celebrations, inviting some students that can be accommodated in the hall inside the school

Lilavatibai Podar School, Santacruz, will have open celebrations, in which pedestrians and neighbouring housing societies will be encouraged to participate

South Indian Education Society School, Matunga, will have a movie screening along with mass yoga programmes