The chating of 'Om' and Vedic Mantras is included in International Day of Yoga on June 21st and this has also sparked the old controversies from the previous edition of the event last year.
While the Ayush ministry clarified the protocol is not compulsory, some political parties accused the government of pushing its Hindutva agenda by asking participants to chant vedic mantras and 'Om' before the 45-minute session. Joint Secretary Anil Kumar Ganeriwala said,
"There are no changes in the protocol which is followed last year. It is not compulsory to chant 'Om' before the yoga session either. It is completely voluntary and one can remain silent. No one will object." The protocol clearly saus a frame work for 45 minutes which includes yoga postures, meditation and chanting.
Last year during Yoga day, similar move by central government sparked lots of protests. So this year the maing event for International Day of Yoga will take place in Chandigarh instead of Delhi. Yoga Day initiative was taken by India and 191 nations voted in favour.
