Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev has announced that he has given his consent for a statute of himself to be installed at Madame Tussauds, the world famous wax museum in London.
Ramdev announced the development on Twitter, noting that this marks the "first time a statute of a Yogi would be installed" at Madame Tussauds. "This will further add to the glory of the science of Yoga and will motivate people across the globe to adopt a Yogic lifestyle," he said.
Ramdev's wax statue will be seen striking the 'Vrikshasana', or tree posture.
First time the statue of a Yogi be installed at @MadameTussauds museum. This will further add to the glory of the science of Yoga and will motivate people across the globe to adopt a Yogic lifestyle pic.twitter.com/Sg4F5lFSEY
— Swami Ramdev (@yogrishiramdev) June 25, 2018
SK Tijarawala, spokesperson for Baba Ramdev, said that the yoga guru had finally consented to a request by the Madame Tussauds museum after extended deliberation.
Today @yogrishiramdev announced in a PC held in #London that he has given consent to long soght after request of #MadamTussauds museum to put his look-alike statue..as it will arouse curisity about character and knowledge of #Yoga & Yogi among millions of international tourists https://t.co/qk6PdUCRzs
— tijarawala sk (@tijarawala) June 22, 2018
Ramdev's spokesperson said that that his photographs and measurements were taken by a 20-member team from the Madame Tussaud museum in London.
An official statement said, "The team of Madame Tussauds expert artists met Baba Ramdev in London for the sitting for his figure, where they took over 200 specific measurements, photographs to create an authentic likeness."
Madame Tussauds has wax replicas of a number of Indian personalities including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sachin Tendulkar and Shah Rukh Khan. Madame Tussauds also has a branch in Delhi.
The Times of Indiareported that Ramdev's statute will first be displayed in London and then travel to Delhi.
Tijarawala told TOI that Ramdev's statute will be installed next to Modi's. "It is indeed the power of yoga that midst the statues of global celebrities, the statue of a fakir (Baba Ramdev) is being installed by the side of a wazir (PM Modi)," he said.
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