NEW DELHI: With India aiming to get into the Guinness Book of World Records with the largest number of people performing Yoga at a single venue on the International Day of Yoga, Doordarshan will telecast the event live from Rajpath on the morning of 21 June.

The Delhi Kendra of Doordarshan has deployed around 23 cameras by linking together three OB vans with microwave and OFC cables to cover this mega event.

The live coverage of the event is touted to be totally different from that of the Republic Day Parade that Doordarshan brings annually to India and the world as this would encompass a panoramic view of the happenings at Rajpath.

The logistics involved in the live telecast of upcoming International Day of Yoga are complex, as the area involved stretches for almost 1.5 kms from Rafi Marg to India Gate and will encompass the entire lawns to the north and south of Rajpath. 

The 23 Doordarshan cameras being used for the coverage have been placed in strategic positions to cover all the 40,000 participants, and guests led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Doordarshan will use 13 raisers of five feet and ten feet height, which have been covered aesthetically with yoga motifs to place the cameras. Three Jimmy jip cameras, which can provide an aerial view from a height of 40 meters will also be used to add to the visual impact of the coverage. 

One of the cameras has been additionally placed at the halfway point on a hydraulic lift, which can go up to about 50 feet high. This camera is at the junction between Rajpath and Janpath and can give the viewer an aerial perspective, covering participants at both ends of the venue. In addition, two cameras will be placed on top of India gate and will give panoramic shots of the central vista.  

The coverage will also include the production of a small stage; instructional yoga by experts will be shown by using three cameras and by deploying a fourth OB Van. The output of this OB van will be provided by Doordarshan to the organisers for display on giant LCD screens, adding to the visual impact of the event.

The event will start at 6.20 am with a nine-minute introductory film, welcoming all to the world of yoga and will go on up to 7.45 am or till the end.

Producer Shanti Swaroop Bhakoo from Doordarshan Kendra Delhi, who is heading the team has extensive experience in live OBs like the Republic Day Parade and the Independence Day celebrations. 

Over a hundred staff from the programme, engineering, scenic and administrative side are working round the clock to ensure a coverage befitting international standards. All technical operations are being supervised by S.N. Singh, DDG (Engineering). 

Doordarshan additional director general Dr Mahesh Joshi will hold overall charge of this historic mega live coverage.