Union Health Minister JP Nadda (BJP) participated in the 12th [1] International Day of Yoga celebrations in Delhi on June 21, 2026.
The event underscores India's effort to institutionalize traditional wellness practices as a global public health standard through the United Nations.
Nadda performed yoga and addressed the crowd, focusing on the official theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing” [1]. He said Prime Minister Modi elevated yoga to the world stage and expanded its international reach.
“Everyone should move forward in life with yoga,” Nadda said [2].
The 2026 celebrations saw extensive global participation. Nearly 2,500 [3] locations worldwide hosted events, with more than 210 [3] Indian missions abroad organizing specific activities to mark the day.
In Kolkata, the scale of participation was particularly high. An estimated 10 lakh [4] individuals were anticipated to attend the city's events. In a concentrated effort, 35,000 [4] participants joined Prime Minister Modi for the Common Yoga Protocol on Red Road.
Nadda said the recognition of yoga by the UN has helped transition the practice from a regional tradition to a globally accepted tool for health and longevity. He said the current focus on healthy ageing addresses a critical need as global populations shift toward older demographics.
““Everyone should move forward in life with yoga””
The 12th International Day of Yoga demonstrates the Indian government's success in using 'soft power' to export cultural practices. By aligning the 2026 theme with 'Healthy Ageing,' India is positioning yoga not just as a spiritual exercise, but as a strategic public health intervention to combat the challenges of an aging global population.
