CM Bhajan Lal joins PM Modi's Yoga Day address at Abooraj
Synopsis
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma joined PM Narendra Modi's virtual address at Abooraj on International Yoga Day, 21 June 2026, crediting Modi's leadership for making yoga a worldwide health movement and calling it a source of pride for India's cultural heritage.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma participated in the International Yoga Day observance on 21 June 2026 at Abooraj .
PM Narendra Modi delivered a virtual address that Sharma described as inspiring and visionary.
Sharma credited Modi's sustained efforts for making yoga a global jan andolan (people's movement) for health and wellness.
International Yoga Day was established after PM Modi proposed it at the UN General Assembly in 2014 , with the first observance held in 2015 .
This year's theme, #YogaForHealthyAgeing , aligns with AYUSH ministry programmes integrating yoga into preventive care for ageing populations.
Rajasthan's participation follows the standard pattern of state-level events synchronised with the Prime Minister's national address.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma attended a virtual address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Abooraj on Sunday, 21 June 2026, on the occasion of International Yoga Day, praising the Prime Minister's role in elevating yoga into a global health movement.
Context
In a post on X, CM Sharma described PM Modi's address as 'preranadayi udbodhan' (an inspiring address), noting that it was delivered virtually and received at the Abooraj venue in Rajasthan. He wrote that as a result of the Prime Minister's 'visionary leadership and sustained efforts,' yoga has today become a 'jan andolan' — a people's movement — for health and wellness across the world.
Sharma added that it is a matter of pride for every Indian that the country's cultural heritage is now 'giving the message of health, peace, and balanced living to all of humanity.'
Policy Backdrop
The observance traces directly to a proposal made by PM Modi at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, when he called for a dedicated international day for yoga. The UN adopted the resolution unanimously, and the first International Yoga Day was observed on 21 June 2015.
Since then, the day has been marked annually with a central government-led event headlined by the Prime Minister, with state governments organising synchronised programmes. The Ministry of AYUSH has progressively integrated yoga into preventive health frameworks, including programmes targeting senior citizens and healthy ageing — a theme reflected in this year's hashtag #YogaForHealthyAgeing.
Stakeholders and Impact
Rajasthan's participation follows the established pattern of state-level events aligned with the Prime Minister's national address, reinforcing the BJP-led state government's commitment to centrally driven cultural and public-health initiatives. Yoga practitioners, public health advocates, and AYUSH stakeholders stand as the primary beneficiaries of the expanded outreach.
The emphasis on healthy ageing signals a policy focus on integrating traditional wellness practices into care frameworks for an ageing population — a demographic challenge that is increasingly prominent in India's public-health planning.
What's Next
Attention will turn to whether Rajasthan announces dedicated rollouts of yoga modules within its state health and education schemes in the coming weeks. Any new guidelines from the Ministry of AYUSH on yoga protocols for ageing populations would build on the momentum generated by the 21 June observance and set the agenda for year-round implementation.
Point of View
As India's planners grapple with a growing elderly population. Sharma's participation reinforces Rajasthan's posture as an active implementer of central government priorities rather than a passive observer.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is International Yoga Day and when is it celebrated?
International Yoga Day is an annual global observance held on 21 June each year, established by the United Nations in 2015 following a proposal by PM Narendra Modi at the UN General Assembly in 2014, to highlight yoga's benefits for health and well-being.
What did Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma do on Yoga Day 2026?
CM Bhajan Lal Sharma attended PM Modi's virtual address at Abooraj in Rajasthan on 21 June 2026 and praised the Prime Minister's leadership in making yoga a worldwide people's movement for health and wellness.
Who proposed International Yoga Day at the United Nations?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the creation of International Yoga Day at the UN General Assembly in 2014 , and the resolution was adopted unanimously, leading to the first observance on 21 June 2015 .
What is the theme of International Yoga Day 2026?
The theme highlighted during the 2026 observance, as reflected in official posts, is 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' , focusing on yoga's role in preventive health care for older populations.
What is Abooraj in Rajasthan?
Abooraj is a venue in Rajasthan where the state-level International Yoga Day event was held on 21 June 2026 , at which CM Bhajan Lal Sharma received PM Modi's virtual address.
