Kolkata/Jabalpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the country in celebrating the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on Sunday, participating in an event along with thousands of people at Kolkata’s iconic Red Road, while President Droupadi Murmu joined the member of the public in performing “asanas” at Jabalpur.
Similar events were held across the country, with Union ministers, chief ministers and governors taking part.
Dressed in a white T-shirt and a white pair of trousers, Modi was seen walking among the participants during the 40-minute session, closely observing the performance of yoga protocols and ensuring that those were being followed correctly.
At several points, he also assisted the participants in correcting their postures.
Addressing the nation on the occasion, the prime minister said yoga has become the world’s largest community celebration, bringing people together from across countries and cultures.
“June 21, which marks the longest day on earth, has now become the largest community celebration day because of yoga. Yoga brings people together. I congratulate the people of the world on this occasion,” he said.
Referring to this year’s IDY theme — “Yoga for healthy ageing” — Modi said the ancient practice plays a crucial role in promoting physical health, mental well-being and active ageing, thereby improving the quality of life.
“Our target is to be more flexible at 40 than we were at 20. We aim to be more energetic at 50 than we were at 30. Our target must be to be more resistant to lifestyle-related diseases at 70 than we were at 50. This is where yoga can help us,” he added.
Since its inception in 2015, when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted India’s proposal to observe June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, Modi has led the celebrations from various locations, including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Mysuru, New York, Srinagar and Visakhapatnam.
Murmu said yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s cultural heritage to the world, playing a vital role in guiding humanity towards peace and harmony amid multiple global challenges.
The president took part in a mass yoga session at Jabalpur’s Garrison Ground.
Dressed in a white salwar-kurta, she performed various “asanas” on a blue mat.
Addressing the gathering, Murmu said, “We are celebrating India’s great tradition that has shown humanity the path to a healthy, balanced and meaningful life. Yoga is an invaluable gift of our cultural heritage to the global community. It is the result of thousands of years of penance by our sages and seers.”
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan joined hundreds of yoga enthusiasts at the Astro Turf Stadium in Ladakh’s Spituk. The celebrations featured a mass yoga session, with the participants performing various “asanas” against the scenic backdrop of the Himalayan mountains.
Celebrating the IDY at the Indian Air Force’s Advanced Landing Ground in Meghalaya’s Upper Shillong, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extended greetings to people and described yoga as “not merely the foundation of a healthy body, but a path to living a balanced and disciplined life”.
“Through the continuous efforts and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, this cultural heritage of India has today become a global people’s movement,” he said in a post on X.
While Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman joined Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in observing the Yoga Day at the Brahmaputra riverfront in Guwahati, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath performed “asanas” at the Jhansi Fort complex in Jhansi.
Similar events were organised in Delhi, Imphal, Ranchi, Gangtok, Chandigarh, Vijayawada, Itanagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar and Jaipur, among other places, with governors and chief ministers taking part.
A large number of armed forces personnel took part in yoga sessions across the country to mark the occasion.
All military commands of the three services — the Army, Navy and Air Force — had geared up for the annual event. In the national capital, the Army hosted the event at the Cariappa Parade Ground at Delhi Cantonment.
From Tokyo’s historic temples to the iconic Arco della Pace in Milan, yoga enthusiasts from across the world came together to celebrate the IDY, reaffirming the ancient Indian practice’s growing appeal as a pathway to health, balance and well-being.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre, Embassy of India, Moscow, in collaboration with the Moscow city government, organised the IDY celebrations at the iconic Universitetskaya Square, Lomonosov Moscow State University.
In China, around 400 people, including diplomats, academics, yoga practitioners and members of the Indian diaspora, participated in celebrations organised by the Consulate General of India at the Bund Finance Centre in Shanghai.
In Japan, more than 2,100 yoga enthusiasts joined celebrations organised by the Indian embassy at the historic Tsukiji Hongan-ji temple in Tokyo.
A large number of people gathered at Old Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, to celebrate IDY under the guidance of Yoga Australia CEO Josh Pryor.
In neighbouring Dhaka, the High Commission of India in Bangladesh brought together participants of all ages to celebrate the occasion.
IDY events were also held in Washington, Toronto, Helsinki, London, Riyadh, Kuala Lumpur, Ankara and Barcelona, among other places.
