Kashmir Impulse Desk

New Delhi, June 21

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday led nationwide celebrations marking the 12th International Day of Yoga, describing the ancient Indian practice as the world’s largest community movement and a powerful instrument for promoting health, well-being and global harmony.

Participating in a mass yoga session at Kolkata’s historic Red Road, Modi joined thousands of practitioners in performing yoga exercises, as similar events unfolded across India and in dozens of countries worldwide.

The celebrations, held under the theme ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’, highlighted the growing international acceptance of yoga as a tool for preventive healthcare and healthy living at a time when countries are grappling with rising lifestyle diseases and ageing populations.

Addressing participants, Modi said yoga had evolved far beyond its origins and become a global phenomenon that brings together people across cultures, languages, and national boundaries.

“June 21 has become one of the world’s largest community celebrations because of yoga,” Modi said. “Yoga unites humanity and creates a sense of shared purpose.”

Dressed in white, the Prime Minister walked among participants during the session, interacting with practitioners and observing the performance of yoga protocols.

Modi said yoga offered a practical pathway towards healthier lives and greater resilience against modern health challenges.

Referring to this year’s theme, he said the objective should be to remain healthier and more energetic as people age rather than accepting declining health as inevitable.

“Our goal should be to be more flexible at 40 than we were at 20, more energetic at 50 than we were at 30 and more resistant to disease at 70 than we were at 50,” he said.

Since the United Nations adopted India’s proposal in 2014 to observe June 21 as International Day of Yoga, the annual event has become one of the country’s most successful exercises in cultural diplomacy. Modi has personally led celebrations from locations ranging from New Delhi and Chandigarh to New York, Srinagar and Visakhapatnam.

President Droupadi Murmu joined celebrations in Jabalpur, describing yoga as one of India’s most valuable gifts to humanity.

In a public address, Murmu said yoga offered a pathway to peace and balance at a time when the world was confronting multiple social, political and environmental challenges.

Across India, governors, chief ministers, cabinet ministers and senior officials participated in mass yoga sessions held in cities, towns and rural areas.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh joined celebrations in Meghalaya, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman participated in events in Assam, while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led a yoga session at Jhansi Fort.

The armed forces organised large-scale yoga programmes across military establishments, including border areas, naval bases and air force stations.

International participation remained a key feature of this year’s celebrations.

Events were organised in major cities including Moscow, Tokyo, Shanghai, Canberra, London, Toronto, Washington, Helsinki, Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur, drawing diplomats, students, yoga practitioners and members of the Indian diaspora.

More than 2,000 participants attended celebrations at Tokyo’s Tsukiji Hongan-ji temple, while hundreds gathered in Shanghai, Moscow and Canberra to perform yoga and commemorate the occasion.

The widespread participation reflects yoga’s transformation from an ancient Indian spiritual discipline into a global wellness movement embraced by governments, healthcare professionals and communities worldwide.

Indian officials view the growing popularity of yoga as an important element of the country’s soft power, helping project its cultural heritage while contributing to international discussions on public health and well-being.

As celebrations concluded across continents, the message emerging from this year’s observance remained consistent: yoga is increasingly being viewed not only as a physical exercise but as a comprehensive approach to healthier, more balanced and sustainable living.