India, June 21 -- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the national celebration of the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) at the historic Red Road in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Event Highlights
- Venue: Red Road, Kolkata - chosen for its rich cultural and spiritual heritage.
- Theme: "Yoga for Healthy Ageing" - emphasizing vitality, resilience, and well-being across all stages of life.
- Participation: Thousands joined in person, while lakhs across India and abroad took part virtually. Over 210 Indian Missions hosted events in nearly 2,500 global locations.
Key Messages
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi:
- "Yoga has the unique power to connect people, societies and nations."
- "Yoga is not just for personal well-being; it is also a pathway to global peace."
- Urged citizens to embrace Yoga 365 - making yoga part of daily life, not just one day.
- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari: Highlighted Bengal's enthusiasm, with participation from Darjeeling to Digha and Cooch Behar.
- Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav (Ayush): Stressed yoga's global reach, celebrated in 180+ countries, and promoted initiatives like the 100-day online yoga programme.
Cultural Dimension
- Events were also held at 100 iconic Indian sites by the Ministry of Culture and ASI, linking yoga with India's heritage.
- Bengal's legacy of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo was invoked as part of the state's spiritual contribution to yoga's global spread.
This year's observance reinforced yoga as both a personal discipline and a collective movement for peace and health worldwide.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Travel Media.