Actor Akshay Kumar and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya performed yoga together in Delhi on June 21, 2026, to mark International Day of Yoga.
The event highlights the ongoing effort by the Indian government to integrate traditional wellness practices into public health strategies through high-profile celebrity endorsements.
The celebration took place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi [1, 2]. This year marked the 12th International Day of Yoga, an annual event recognized globally to promote holistic health and well-being [2].
According to event reports, Kumar joined the sports minister in a session that included 3,000 participants [1]. The gathering focused on a specific objective for the 2026 observance, the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing” [1, 2].
The presence of Kumar, who is frequently associated with fitness and health advocacy in India, served to draw attention to the theme of longevity and wellness. The session combined traditional asanas with the official government agenda to encourage citizens of all ages to adopt yoga as a daily habit.
The event was part of a wider series of national celebrations aimed at showcasing India's cultural heritage and its contribution to global health. By aligning a popular film star with a union minister, the organizers sought to maximize the reach of the “Yoga for Healthy Ageing” campaign across different demographic groups [1, 2].
“The gathering focused on a specific objective for the 2026 observance, the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing.””
The collaboration between a high-profile celebrity like Akshay Kumar and a government official underscores the Indian state's strategy of using 'soft power' and celebrity influence to institutionalize yoga as a public health tool. By focusing on 'Healthy Ageing,' the 12th International Day of Yoga pivots toward addressing the needs of an aging population, attempting to reduce the long-term burden on the healthcare system through preventative, wellness-based practices.
