World Yoga Day: Amid objections, Maharashtra govt agrees to shift it from a Sunday

With Mumbai schools raising objections to the latest government resolution (GR) asking them to stay open on June 21 – a Sunday - to celebrate World Yoga Day, education minister Vinod Tawde announced on Wednesday that they will consult school principals and fix another day for the event.

With Mumbai schools raising objections to the latest government resolution (GR) asking them to stay open on June 21 – a Sunday - to celebrate World Yoga Day, education minister Vinod Tawde announced on Wednesday that they will consult school principals and fix another day for the event.

Hindustan Times had reported on Wednesday that a GR was issued by the school education and sports department on Tuesday, appointing a panel to come up with activities for schools to celebrate the day on June 21. However, Catholic schools had demanded to put off the celebrations to another day.

In light of this, Tawde said they would consult with schools before fixing the day. “We will have a meeting with school principals once they reopen in June and decide when the day could be celebrated,” said Tawde. “It cannot be kept on Sunday so we will fix some other day,” he added.

The schools are willing to hold the celebrations on Monday. “Saturday could again be a problem for some schools as it is a holiday for some, so Monday seems the best option,” said Father Francis Swamy, co-ordinator of the Jesuit School Board and manager of St Xavier’s School, Fort.

A 24-member committee has also been formed to organise these celebrations and organise programmes. The committee will consist of Uday Deshpande from Samartha Vyayam Mandir, Dadar, and other members, including actor Manisha Koirala, who had met Tawde in January to talk about spreading awareness of the benefits of yoga in schools.