New Delhi, 21 June (H.S.):

India will observe the 12th International Day of Yoga on Sunday with nationwide celebrations under the theme Yoga for Healthy Ageing, highlighting the role of yoga in promoting healthy, active and balanced living across all stages of life. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the national celebrations by participating in a mass yoga session at Red Road in Kolkata later in the day.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to join thousands of participants at the flagship event, where yoga enthusiasts, students, officials and members of the public will gather to mark the annual observance. Preparations have been completed at Red Road as well as at prominent locations across Kolkata, including Millennium Park and Prinsep Ghat.

This year's theme, Yoga for Healthy Ageing, reflects the growing global focus on enhancing health, mobility and overall well-being as populations age. The celebrations will emphasise yoga's role in improving physical fitness, mental wellness and quality of life while encouraging people to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Across the country, state governments, educational institutions, armed forces, public sector organisations and community groups will organise mass yoga sessions and awareness programmes to commemorate the occasion.

In Odisha's Puri, internationally acclaimed sand artist Manas Kumar Sahoo has created a special sand animation dedicated to International Day of Yoga 2026. The artwork depicts this year's theme and features Prime Minister Modi practising yoga, conveying a message encouraging people to incorporate yoga into their daily lives.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev will also participate in a large International Day of Yoga programme at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Labbipet, Andhra Pradesh, where participants will perform various yoga asanas aligned with the year's theme.

The Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla, Gujarat, has organised a special yoga session that will bring together employees and yoga enthusiasts to promote health, harmony and holistic well-being.

Ahead of the celebrations, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav extended his greetings and urged citizens to make yoga an integral part of their daily routine, describing it as an effective means of maintaining physical fitness, mental peace and overall well-being.

All India Muslim Jamaat National President Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi has also appealed to people, including members of the Muslim community, to practise yoga, stating that it offers significant health benefits and contributes to a balanced lifestyle.

Rooted in India's ancient traditions, yoga has evolved into a global movement for physical, mental and emotional wellness. The United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga after Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea during the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in 2014. The resolution received the support of 175 member states, and the first International Day of Yoga was observed on June 21, 2015.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar