Anurag Thakur joins Yoga Day session by SRMD Wellness, Lodha Foundation
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur attended an SRMD Wellness and Lodha Foundation Yoga and Sound Meditation session on International Yoga Day 2026, crediting the Modi government for elevating yoga into a global wellness and preventive-healthcare movement rooted in Bharatiya civilisation.
Key Takeaways
BJP MP Anurag Thakur participated in a Yoga and Sound Meditation session co-organised by SRMD Wellness and Lodha Foundation on International Yoga Day .
International Day of Yoga is observed on 21 June each year following a 2014 UN General Assembly resolution proposed by PM Narendra Modi .
Thakur noted 'renewed interest and growing awareness' towards yoga among participants, many of whom have adopted it as a daily practice.
He credited the Narendra Modi government for making yoga 'a global movement' and a 'powerful path to well-being, preventive healthcare and healthy ageing.' The event was co-organised with Mangal Prabhat Lodha , BJP MP and founder of Lodha Foundation .
India's government has promoted yoga through AYUSH programmes and diplomatic events in over 190 countries since the first global observance in 2015 .
BJP MP Anurag Thakur participated in a Yoga and Sound Meditation session organised by SRMD Wellness and Lodha Foundation on the occasion of International Yoga Day, sharing his reflections on 22 June 2026. Thakur, the Lok Sabha MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh and former Union Minister, described the session as 'fulfilling and rejuvenating' and noted a growing public interest in yoga as a daily practice.
Context
International Day of Yoga is observed every year on 21 June, following a 2014 United Nations General Assembly resolution introduced at the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The first global observance took place on 21 June 2015, with large-scale events coordinated by India's Ministry of AYUSH. Since then, the day has grown into one of the most widely observed wellness observances worldwide.
The Mumbai session that Thakur attended was co-organised by SRMD Wellness, the wellness arm of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur, and Lodha Foundation, the philanthropic initiative associated with BJP MP and industrialist Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who was tagged in the post.
Policy Backdrop
Thakur credited the Narendra Modi government with transforming yoga into 'a global movement, helping people across nations recognise it as a powerful path to well-being, preventive healthcare and healthy ageing.' This framing aligns with the government's long-standing effort to position yoga as India's contribution to global public health, channelled through the Ministry of AYUSH and a network of international cultural programmes.
Since 2014, successive AYUSH campaigns have encouraged daily yoga practice for preventive care and healthy ageing, while India's embassies and consulates have hosted Yoga Day events in over 190 countries. The government views the day as a cornerstone of its cultural diplomacy, projecting Bharat as the birthplace of a practice that now belongs to the world.
Stakeholders and Impact
Thakur said he 'found a renewed interest and growing awareness towards Yoga among people, many of whom have made it an integral part of their lives.' The observation points to a measurable shift in urban wellness culture, where yoga has moved from niche spiritual practice to mainstream preventive healthcare.
The wellness sector — including studios, digital platforms, AYUSH practitioners, and organisations such as SRMD Wellness — stands to benefit from continued government promotion. Events co-hosted by corporate philanthropies like Lodha Foundation also signal increasing private-sector investment in public wellness programming.
What's Next
With International Yoga Day 2026 now concluded, attention in the wellness-policy space will turn to any new AYUSH Ministry guidelines on integrating yoga into public-health infrastructure and school curricula ahead of the 2027 observance. The growing convergence of government outreach, private philanthropy, and spiritual organisations in organising Yoga Day events suggests the format will continue to scale. Thakur's public participation reinforces the BJP's consistent messaging that yoga is both a civilisational legacy and a live public-health tool.
Point of View
The birthplace of Yoga') while crediting the Modi government with a concrete diplomatic achievement — the 2014 UN resolution. By attending an event co-hosted by a BJP MP's philanthropic foundation, Thakur also underscores the party's effort to build a visible ecosystem of wellness outreach that links governance, culture, and private capital. The emphasis on 'preventive healthcare and healthy ageing' is notable, signalling that yoga is being repositioned within public-health discourse rather than treated purely as a cultural symbol. As AYUSH's budget and institutional footprint expand, such events serve as ground-level amplifiers for a policy narrative the government is clearly invested in sustaining well beyond a single day of observance.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is International Yoga Day celebrated on 21 June?
International Day of Yoga is observed on 21 June every year because that date — the summer solstice — is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and holds special significance in many cultures. The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution in December 2014 following a proposal by PM Narendra Modi , and the first observance was held on 21 June 2015 .
What is SRMD Wellness?
SRMD Wellness is the wellness initiative of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur, an organisation focused on meditation, yoga, and inner transformation programmes across India.
Who is Mangal Prabhat Lodha?
Mangal Prabhat Lodha is a BJP Lok Sabha MP and industrialist associated with the Lodha Group. His philanthropic arm, Lodha Foundation , supports cultural and wellness initiatives, including the Yoga Day session attended by Anurag Thakur.
What has the Modi government done to promote yoga internationally?
Since 2014 , the Narendra Modi government has promoted yoga through the Ministry of AYUSH, coordinated Yoga Day events in over 190 countries through Indian embassies, and integrated yoga into domestic public-health and preventive-care messaging.
What did Anurag Thakur say about yoga at the 2026 Yoga Day event?
Anurag Thakur described the session as 'fulfilling and rejuvenating' and observed a 'renewed interest and growing awareness' towards yoga among participants. He credited the Narendra Modi government for making yoga 'a global movement' and a 'powerful path to well-being, preventive healthcare and healthy ageing.'
