Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the national celebrations of the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) from Kolkata’s historic Red Road on June 21, as the Ministry of Ayush rolls out an extensive programme centered on the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing.” Announcing the plans at a curtain-raiser event in New Delhi, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, said the theme underscores the importance of ensuring that longer life expectancy translates into healthier, more active, independent and meaningful lives. He described yoga as a time-tested and holistic practice that promotes physical fitness, mental well-being and overall quality of life.
Highlighting yoga’s growing global appeal since the United Nations adopted India’s proposal for an International Day of Yoga in 2014, Jadhav said more than 210 Indian missions abroad, in partnership with the ICCR, will organise yoga events at nearly 2,500 locations worldwide. The celebrations will include programmes at 100 iconic sites across India, the ongoing “Gangotri to Gangasagar: Ganga Tat Yoga Yatra,” and special events in Kolkata ahead of June 21. The minister also noted that a nationwide live yoga session held on June 14 attracted over four lakh participants simultaneously, creating a new Guinness World Record and reflecting the increasing popularity of yoga across the country and the world.
