Bageshwar Dham Peethadheeshwar Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri delivered a message of universal unity from Colombo on 21 June 2025, marking the 12th International Yoga Day by describing yoga as the ultimate connector of the human soul with the divine. Speaking on Sri Lankan soil, the prominent spiritual leader extended greetings to people across India and the world, positioning yoga as a force that transcends borders and binds humanity.

Key Remarks from the Event

Pandit Shastri addressed a gathering that included Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, Sri Lankan government officials, and local citizens. He framed yoga in terms far broader than physical exercise. 'Yoga is a matter of connection in life. It is not just an exercise or a physical state, but a supreme system of connecting the soul with God,' he said. He elaborated that yoga embodies connection, attachment, and the bond of humanity and culture.

The Bageshwar Sarkar also invoked India's ancient philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family — stating that the aspiration for global brotherhood finds its beginning in yoga. He argued that when an individual connects with yoga, the soul rises above worldly limitations, nurturing a higher consciousness and a global outlook.

A Call to Daily Practice

Beyond the philosophical, Pandit Shastri offered practical counsel. He urged people worldwide to adopt yoga in their daily lives, advising them to rise early, greet the Sun God, and absorb the morning rays. 'If you want happiness in life, you must adopt yoga,' he said. He emphasised that a healthy body leads to a calm mind, and a calm mind produces a better life — a sequence he presented as both ancient wisdom and lived practice.

In his address, the Katha Vyas offered prayers to Lord Hanuman for the health, prosperity, and happiness of all present, their families, and the nation. He also prayed to the 'Creator' for the well-being of people across the globe.

India's Soft Power in Sri Lanka

Pandit Shastri's visit to Sri Lanka for International Yoga Day carries diplomatic undertones. The presence of Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha at the event underscores India's consistent use of yoga as a cultural and soft-power instrument in its neighbourhood diplomacy. This comes amid India's broader effort to deepen people-to-people ties with Sri Lanka, a country with deep historical and cultural links to the subcontinent.

He expressed hope that feelings of love and compassion towards India, the motherland, would continue to grow among all those present — a sentiment that resonated with the cross-border spirit of the occasion.

Significance of the 12th International Yoga Day

The United Nations declared 21 June as International Yoga Day in 2014, following a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 12th edition saw events held globally, with India-linked spiritual figures and institutions playing a prominent role in spreading the message of yoga as a universal heritage. Pandit Shastri's address from Colombo added an international dimension to the day's celebrations, reinforcing yoga's reach beyond Indian borders.