VOI World/ Desk
Yoga Day celebrated across world with millions of people joining events across continents as India marked the 12th International Day of Yoga with the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”. Indian PM Modi led the main celebrations from Kolkata’s Red Road, describing yoga as a “powerful force” that unites people across countries and cultures.
Addressing a gathering of around 35,000 participants, PM Modi urged people to make yoga a part of their daily lives and said the practice contributes not only to physical fitness but also to mental well-being and long-term health. He added that yoga has a bigger role to play in building a healthier and more harmonious future.
The celebrations extended far beyond India. From New York’s Times Square to Paris, Berlin and the Egyptian pyramids, thousands gathered for yoga sessions to mark the occasion. More than 210 Indian missions and diplomatic posts participated in events, while programmes were held at nearly 2,500 locations worldwide, reflecting yoga’s growing international appeal.
Special sessions were also organised across India, including in forests, military bases and public spaces. Defence personnel conducted yoga exercises from mountains and plains to the high seas, while wildlife officials and mahouts were seen performing yoga near elephants at West Bengal’s Jaldapara National Park.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and several Union ministers also participated in events, emphasising yoga’s role in promoting mental peace, discipline and emotional balance.
Since its adoption by the United Nations in 2015 following India’s proposal, International Yoga Day has evolved into a global movement, with participation continuing to expand each year.
