CM Gujarat: PM Modi joins 12th Yoga Day in Kolkata
Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the 12th International Day of Yoga celebrations in Kolkata, West Bengal on 21 June 2026. India proposed the UN observance in 2014; the national flagship event rotates across states each year to broaden public participation.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi participated in the 12th International Day of Yoga on 21 June 2026 in Kolkata, West Bengal .
The Chief Minister's Office of Gujarat shared the update via the NaMo App on the same day.
India proposed the International Day of Yoga at the UN General Assembly in September 2014 ; the resolution was adopted unanimously.
The first global observance was held on 21 June 2015 , with participation from more than 190 countries .
The Government of India rotates the national flagship venue each year to encourage wider participation across states.
Kolkata marks the first time the eastern Indian city has hosted the central government's main Yoga Day event.
The Chief Minister's Office of Gujarat shared on Sunday, 21 June 2026 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 12th International Day of Yoga celebrations held in Kolkata, West Bengal, marking the annual global observance that India championed at the United Nations.
Context
Prime Minister Modi attended the national-level International Day of Yoga event in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. The 21 June observance is now in its twelfth year, having been first celebrated globally in 2015. The choice of Kolkata as the principal venue for 2026 continues the Government of India's practice of rotating the main national celebration across different states.
Policy Backdrop
It was Prime Minister Modi who, in September 2014, moved a resolution at the UN General Assembly proposing an annual International Day of Yoga. The resolution was adopted unanimously, making India the architect of a global health observance now marked in more than 190 countries. The first edition was observed on 21 June 2015, with events spanning India and the world.
Each year since, the Government of India has organised a flagship national event on 21 June, with the AYUSH ministry and state administrations coordinating mass yoga sessions for public participation. The rotating-venue model is designed to extend the programme's reach beyond the national capital and draw in diverse populations across the country.
Stakeholders and Impact
The event draws yoga practitioners, public-health advocates, and citizens across age groups who participate in mass yoga sessions at designated venues. West Bengal, an opposition-governed state, hosting the central government's flagship yoga event underscores the non-partisan, public-health framing that has defined the observance since its inception. State governments across the political spectrum routinely participate in or publicise the day.
The International Day of Yoga has also served as a vehicle for India's cultural diplomacy, projecting the country's ancient wellness traditions to a global audience. Embassies, Indian missions abroad, and diaspora communities typically organise parallel events on the same date.
What's Next
The 13th International Day of Yoga will be observed on 21 June 2027, with the venue for the national flagship event expected to be announced by the AYUSH ministry in the months preceding the occasion. Subsequent editions are also likely to see expanded programming under central and state health initiatives tied to the observance. The Kolkata edition sets a precedent for hosting the event in eastern India, a region that has seen growing engagement with the annual celebration.
Point of View
Above-politics public-health initiative rather than a partisan one. Choosing Kolkata as the 2026 venue extends the event's geographic footprint into eastern India, a region the central government has been keen to engage more visibly. Twelve years in, the observance has matured from a symbolic gesture into a structured annual programme with global diplomatic resonance. The rotation model also gives the central government a recurring opportunity to build soft-power narratives across diverse state contexts, regardless of the ruling party at the state level.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the 12th International Day of Yoga celebrated in India?
The 12th International Day of Yoga national flagship event was held in Kolkata, West Bengal on 21 June 2026 , with Prime Minister Narendra Modi participating.
Who started the International Day of Yoga?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the International Day of Yoga at the UN General Assembly in September 2014 . The resolution was adopted unanimously and the first observance took place on 21 June 2015 .
When is International Day of Yoga celebrated every year?
The International Day of Yoga is observed every year on 21 June , a date adopted by the United Nations following India's proposal in 2014.
How many countries participate in International Day of Yoga?
More than 190 countries have participated in International Day of Yoga events since the observance began in 2015 .
Why does India change the venue for Yoga Day every year?
The Government of India rotates the main national Yoga Day venue across different states each year to encourage broader public participation and extend the reach of the observance beyond the national capital.
