International Yoga Day 2026 LIVE: President Murmu, PM Modi Lead Celebrations

News Desk - On Sunday, June 21, 2026, India and the world celebrated the 12th International Day of Yoga under the theme "Yoga for Healthy Ageing", with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the national event from Kolkata's Red Road and President Droupadi Murmu gracing state-level celebrations in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

The grand national celebration began at 5:00 AM on Kolkata's historic Red Road, where nearly 10 lakh people were expected to participate, with around 35,000 joining PM Modi for the Common Yoga Protocol session. Over 210 Indian missions abroad organized yoga celebrations at nearly 2,500 locations worldwide, while special events were held at 100 iconic cultural sites across India. PM Modi, speaking to attendees, said yoga has become the world's largest community celebration, bringing people together across countries and cultures, and noted that June 21 the longest day on Earth is now recognized worldwide as a day of yoga.

President Droupadi Murmu participated in International Yoga Day celebrations at Garrison Ground in Jabalpur, accompanied by MP Governor Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, performing asanas alongside around 4,000 participants. Across Madhya Pradesh, thousands joined mass yoga sessions in Ujjain's Dussehra Maidan and other locations, all under the theme "Yoga for Healthy Ageing". The theme, announced by Union Minister of State for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav, emphasizes that living longer should mean living healthier, staying active, and maintaining independence throughout later years.

The 12th International Day of Yoga, first observed globally in 2015 following India's initiative at the UN General Assembly endorsed by 175 member states, has grown into a worldwide movement highlighting yoga's role in promoting physical fitness, mental well-being, emotional balance, and active ageing. This year's theme focuses not only on lifespan but also on "healthspan" the period of life spent in good health positioning yoga as a cost-effective practice for balance, flexibility, strength, respiratory efficiency, cardiovascular health, and mental well-being across all age groups.