Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026 emerged as a truly global movement, witnessing unprecedented participation across India and the world under the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing.” Millions joined celebrations across continents, from the United Nations Headquarters in New York to major cities in Europe, West Asia, Africa and East Asia, reflecting Yoga’s growing acceptance as a universal practice for health, harmony and well-being. In India, large-scale events were held nationwide, including 35,000 participants at Kolkata’s historic Red Road.
PM Modi expressed gratitude to global participants for making IDY 2026 a people-driven international celebration. Union and state-level leadership, including President Droupadi Murmu in Jabalpur, Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan in Leh, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in New Delhi, also took part in Yoga sessions, underscoring nationwide engagement.
The government’s Yoga Sangam Portal recorded participation of over 3.07 crore individuals across 780 districts, with more than 7.64 lakh organisations joining the initiative worldwide. The celebrations were marked by large-scale mobilisation of government bodies, educational institutions, NGOs and citizens, along with over 2.66 lakh participation certificates and millions of event uploads.
A major highlight was the “Gangotri to Gangasagar” campaign, which covered 2,525 km along the Ganga, linking key spiritual and cultural centres through mass Yoga sessions and awareness drives, symbolically uniting India’s civilisational heritage with modern wellness practices. Across India, Yoga was also performed at iconic heritage sites such as the Red Fort, Gateway of India, Konark Sun Temple, Hampi, Mahabalipuram, Charminar precincts and Sabarmati Riverfront, reinforcing its cultural and geographical reach.
In the lead-up to the main event, West Bengal hosted multiple engagement activities including marathons, cultural programmes and a 3,000-drone show, while nationwide countdown events achieved record participation and recognition in the Asia Book of Records. The Ministry of Ayush also secured a Guinness World Record for the most viewers for a YouTube Live Yoga session with over 4.35 lakh participants.
IDY 2026 followed a whole-of-government approach, with participation from multiple ministries and agencies including Defence, Jal Shakti, Social Justice, and others. Defence forces conducted Yoga sessions from Siachen to naval ships at sea, while the Indo-Tibetan Border Police held a high-altitude session at Pangong Tso. The National Cadet Corps mobilised over 8.3 lakh cadets across 5,000 locations, making it one of the largest youth-led Yoga initiatives.
From river basins to border posts and global cities to remote regions, IDY 2026 highlighted Yoga’s expanding global footprint and reaffirmed its role as a unifying practice for physical fitness, mental resilience and holistic well-being, further strengthening India’s leadership in promoting wellness worldwide.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
