Chief minister Raghubar Das on Saturday registered for the main function of International Yoga Day on June 21 at Prabhat Tara grounds in Dhurwa here, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform yoga with 35,000 people.

Das was the first to register online after two links for the yoga day mega function — idyranchi.in and yogadayindia.nic.in — for registration for the programme at Suchana Bhawan at Meur Road by state health secretary Nitin Madan Kulkari.

“We have launched the links and registered CM Sir first for the event,” Kulkarni said in the presence of CM Das and his principal secretary Sunil Kumar Barnwal.

Earlier in the day, chief minister Das made mediapersons aware of the importance of International Yoga Day.

“Yoga is an integral part of Indian culture and a gift of India to humankind. Health benefits apart, it helps one control one’s mind,” he said. “Thanks to the efforts of our Prime Minister, June 21 has been declared International Yoga Day and it is a matter of pride that our Prime Minister will be amongst us in our state capital this June 21 on that special day to give his message to the entire world,” Das said.

The chief minister added that he wanted to make yoga day celebrations in Jharkhand “purposeful”.

“In order to make yoga day purposeful, directives have been given to all schools, colleges and commercial organisations to ensure maximum participation of people at the panchyat, block, district and state levels,” the chief minister said.

Training camps will be held on June 13 everywhere while June 21 will be meant for participation, he added.

The chief minister also urged people from all walks of life and cutting across political affiliations to include yoga in their everyday health regimen.

“I urge all people, leaders of all political parties to make the yoga day programme a grand success and make yoga a part of their daily life. Yoga helps keep a check on lifestyle diseases. Yoga has a big role to play in healthy Jharkhand and healthy India,” he said.

Asked specifically, the chief minister replied that Baba Ramdev would not be coming to Ranchi on June 21.

Kulkarni elaborated on the main June 21 event in the state capital. “It will be an open-air programme early in the morning. Yoga will start from 7am. Before that, Prime Minister Modi will address the audience. As the theme of the event is eco-friendliness, khadi mats (to perform yoga) will be used instead of the normal rubber mats this year. Before yoga day, each district will host Run for Yoga on June 15,” he said.

Asked on the number of yoga trainers in Jharkhand, Kulkarni said he could not say offhand, but added that Ranchi had about 200. On what they would do if the number of registered participants went beyond the capacity of the Dhurwa grounds, Kulkarni said: “Entry will be given on first-come, first-serve basis.”

CM mum on Latehar

When a reporter tried to ask the CM a question on the alleged Latehar starvation death, Das said he would not take any “non-yoga day question” from the media on Saturday. “No non-yoga question today, will talk on other matters later,” he said.