Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday led the 12th International Day of Yoga celebrations from Kolkata’s iconic Red Road, where he highlighted yoga’s ability to unite people across the world, saying that “yoga connects everyone and brings everyone together”.
PM Modi joined thousands of participants in the Common Yoga Protocol session and addressed the gathering during the event. He said yoga has emerged as a force that transcends boundaries and connects people across the globe.
“The entire nation, world, seems connected. This is the power of yoga. Yoga connects everyone, brings everyone together. On this occasion, I extend my heartfelt greetings to the entire world, to the entire human community, on International Yoga Day,” he said.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “The entire nation, world, seems connected. This is the power of yoga. Yoga connects everyone, brings everyone together. On this occasion, I extend my heartfelt greetings to the entire world, to the entire human… pic.twitter.com/wD9rRYWsSq
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2026
The Prime Minister also lauded people in West Bengal for efforts undertaken ahead of the event. “Today, on Yoga Day, I would especially like to commend the people of Bengal for the cleanliness drive that has been carried out. This is a wonderful initiative,” he added.
‘Very Special To Be In Bengal’
Calling the occasion significant, PM Modi said it was a privilege to celebrate Yoga Day in a state closely associated with some of India’s most influential spiritual figures.
“It is very special to be in Bengal today on the occasion of Yoga Day. The sacred land of Bengal, where saints like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa descended, Swami Vivekananda introduced yoga to the entire world from here…Where great yogis like Lahiri Mahasaya took the yoga tradition to new heights, today the experience of collective yoga on the same land is giving a unique spiritual experience,” the PM said.
Yoga Day Theme Focuses On ‘Healthy Ageing’
The theme for this year’s International Day of Yoga is “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”, focusing on yoga’s contribution to physical fitness, mental wellness, emotional strength and active ageing, with the aim of enhancing overall quality of life.
The Yoga day celebrations are set to take place at nearly 2,500 venues across the world, with over 210 Indian missions and diplomatic posts participating, underscoring yoga’s growing global appeal as a practice promoting health, harmony and well-being.
Since the United Nations General Assembly adopted India’s proposal in 2014 to designate June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, with the first observance held in 2015, Modi has led Yoga Day events from several locations in India and abroad, including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Mysuru, Srinagar, Visakhapatnam and New York.
