Will PM Modi's Hometown Vadnagar Lead the State-Level Yoga Day Celebration?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Gujarat will host the 11th International Yoga Day in Vadnagar.
- Over 1.5 crore people are expected to participate.
- Yoga events will occur at 60,000 locations.
- The event aims for a world record in the Bhujangasana.
- Gujarat emphasizes health with the campaign “Swasth Gujarat – Medasvita Mukt Gujarat”.
Ahmedabad, June 19 (NationPress) In celebration of the 11th International Yoga Day on June 21, Gujarat is poised to host a grand event in Vadnagar, the birthplace of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Prime Minister will participate in the national observance from Visakhapatnam, sending out a message of health and unity, while his home state takes center stage with an extensive state-level gathering at Sarmishta Lake in Vadnagar.
Anticipating participation from over 1.5 crore people, events will take place at more than 60,000 venues, including 45,000 primary schools, 12,500 secondary schools, 2,600 colleges, and 3 universities.
More than 5.73 lakh students and teachers are expected to engage in yoga practices across various campuses.
The initiative has reached out to 18,226 gram panchayats, 251 taluka panchayats, and all 33 district police headquarters, with yoga activities scheduled at 287 ITIs, 1,477 PHCs, 6,500 wellness centers, 30 prisons, and 1,152 police stations.
Mass yoga sessions will also occur at 100 Amrit Sarovar lakes across the state.
Gujarat's Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will lead the main session in Vadnagar, accompanied by Health Minister Rishikesh Patel and Minister of State for Sports Harsh Sanghavi, as thousands gather for a historic mass yoga demonstration. Gujarat aims to set a world record in the Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) during this event.
The celebration aligns with the global theme “Yoga for One Earth – One Health” and reflects Gujarat’s local initiative “Swasth Gujarat – Medasvita Mukt Gujarat” (Healthy and Obesity-Free Gujarat).
With more than 1.5 crore citizens expected to participate at over 60,000 locations, this year’s event strives to be Gujarat’s most inclusive and expansive celebration yet.
In the lead-up to the main event, countdown celebrations were conducted in Vadnagar, featuring yoga and Surya Namaskar sessions at 11 iconic locations, including Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Tana-Riri Garden, Kirti Toran, Vadnagar Museum, and the local railway station.
To build excitement, over 35 large-scale yoga events -- each accommodating more than 1,000 participants -- have already taken place in Junagadh, Porbandar, Surat, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad, along with common yoga protocol sessions across all districts from June 15 to June 20. Last year, Gujarat recorded 1.31 crore participants for the 10th International Yoga Day, the highest in India.