BJP MP Anurag Thakur participated in a Yoga and Sound Meditation session organised under the aegis of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD) in Mumbai, Maharashtra, on Sunday, 21 June 2026, marking International Yoga Day. The event was led by Atmarpit Dr. Mansi ji, Global Head of SRMD Yoga, and was also attended by Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Minister in the Government of Maharashtra, along with other distinguished guests.

Context

Thakur shared the occasion on social media, invoking the Sanskrit verse 'Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam' — 'Yoga is skill in action' — to frame the day's significance. He noted that International Yoga Day serves to highlight the critical role of adopting yoga as a lifestyle for the enhancement of physical health, mental well-being, and balanced living. This year's theme, 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing,' shaped the session's emphasis on preventive healthcare and long-term wellness.

The session was held under the spiritual umbrella of SRMD, a Gujarat-based organisation known for its yoga and meditation outreach programmes. Dr. Mansi ji led the sound meditation component, a practice increasingly integrated into wellness frameworks that combine traditional Indian knowledge with contemporary health science.

Policy Backdrop

International Yoga Day was formally established after Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed it at the UN General Assembly in 2014, making India the principal architect of the global observance held every 21 June. The same year, the Government of India created the Ministry of AYUSH to mainstream yoga and traditional medicine systems into national public health and wellness policy.

Over the past decade, successive central and state governments have treated yoga promotion as both a cultural diplomacy tool and a preventive health strategy. The annual theme format — introduced to align grassroots events with specific policy goals — has allowed successive editions to link traditional practice to concerns such as mental health, climate resilience, and, this year, healthy ageing.

Stakeholders and Impact

Senior citizens are the primary beneficiaries of this year's theme focus, with 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' directing attention to musculoskeletal health, cognitive well-being, and reduced dependence on pharmaceutical intervention among older populations. Yoga practitioners and AYUSH wellness centres across the country observed the day with structured programmes mirroring the preventive healthcare messaging.

The presence of Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha alongside a central-level leader underscores the convergence of state and national political leadership in promoting yoga as a mainstream public health initiative. Mumbai, as the financial capital and a major metropolitan centre, serves as a high-visibility venue for such outreach, amplifying the message to urban professional and senior-citizen demographics.

What's Next

With 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' as the anchor theme, state governments are expected to explore the expansion of yoga modules within senior-citizen welfare schemes and AYUSH wellness centres in the coming financial year. The integration of sound meditation — as demonstrated in the SRMD session — into institutional wellness programmes may gain traction as evidence-based complementary practice. Thakur's participation signals continued political momentum behind yoga as a pillar of India's preventive healthcare narrative.