CM Saini joins 12th International Yoga Day event in Gurugram
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini joined family members for a yoga session at Gurugram's Maharana Pratap Swarn Jayanti Park as part of 12th International Day of Yoga observances, crediting PM Modi's efforts for making yoga a global symbol of health and peace.
Key Takeaways
CM Nayab Singh Saini participated in a yoga session with family at Maharana Pratap Swarn Jayanti Park (Laser Valley), Gurugram .
The event is part of the 12th International Day of Yoga series, with the formal observance on 21 June 2026 .
Saini credited PM Narendra Modi 's initiative for yoga gaining recognition as a global symbol of 'health, balance, and peace'.
The UN General Assembly declared June 21 as International Day of Yoga in 2014 following PM Modi's proposal.
Official yoga-day celebrations now take place in more than 150 countries , reflecting India's cultural diplomacy push.
Larger state and national events are expected on 21 June 2026 across Haryana and the rest of India.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini participated in a yoga session with family members at Maharana Pratap Swarn Jayanti Park (Laser Valley) in Gurugram on Monday, as part of the 12th International Day of Yoga observances.
Context
Posting on X, CM Saini described the occasion as a privilege — 'yogabhyas karne ka saubhagya prapt hua' (had the good fortune of practising yoga) — alongside family members at the Gurugram park. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts for elevating yoga to a symbol of 'health, balance, and peace' on the world stage. The post was accompanied by four photographs from the session.
The event is part of a series of state and national programmes marking 21 June, the date designated as International Day of Yoga by the United Nations.
Policy Backdrop
In 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring June 21 as International Day of Yoga, following a proposal by Prime Minister Modi during his address to the UN. The resolution received record co-sponsorship from member states and came into effect with the first International Day of Yoga on 21 June 2015.
Since then, the central government has woven yoga into cultural diplomacy and public-health policy, with official celebrations reported in more than 150 countries and yoga integrated into school curricula and wellness-tourism frameworks in BJP-governed states, including Haryana.
Stakeholders and Impact
Haryana has been an active participant in national yoga-day programming, with state-level events held at prominent public venues each year. Maharana Pratap Swarn Jayanti Park, popularly known as Laser Valley, is one of Gurugram's largest green public spaces, making it a natural venue for mass participation drives.
For ordinary residents and yoga practitioners across the state, such high-profile official participation reinforces government messaging around preventive healthcare and cultural heritage. The CM's appearance with family members also underscores the event's positioning as a community, rather than purely ceremonial, activity.
What's Next
Larger national and state-level programmes are expected on 21 June 2026, the formal date of the 12th International Day of Yoga, potentially including a central event led by Prime Minister Modi. Haryana is likely to host district-level sessions in parallel, building on the momentum of pre-day activities such as the Gurugram session attended by CM Saini. The government's sustained focus on yoga as soft power suggests continued high-profile participation from senior leaders across BJP-ruled states.
Point of View
At a prominent public park, and amplified on social media — fits a well-established BJP playbook of using International Yoga Day as both a public-health message and a cultural-nationalist statement. By foregrounding PM Modi's role in securing the UN designation, Saini reinforces the party's ownership of the yoga-diplomacy narrative ahead of the formal June 21 observance. The choice of Gurugram's Laser Valley, a high-visibility urban venue, signals an intent to maximise participation optics in a city that represents Haryana's aspirational, corporate identity. This pattern of senior state leaders holding parallel events mirrors the central government's strategy of turning a single UN observance into a nationwide, party-branded mobilisation exercise.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 12th International Day of Yoga in 2026?
The 12th International Day of Yoga falls on 21 June 2026 . It is observed annually on June 21, a date declared by the UN General Assembly in 2014.
Where did Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini do yoga on Yoga Day 2026?
CM Nayab Singh Saini participated in a yoga session at Maharana Pratap Swarn Jayanti Park , also known as Laser Valley , in Gurugram , Haryana.
Who proposed International Day of Yoga at the United Nations?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the observance during his address to the UN General Assembly, which adopted the resolution in 2014 , leading to the first International Day of Yoga on 21 June 2015.
How many countries celebrate International Day of Yoga?
Official International Day of Yoga celebrations are held in more than 150 countries , reflecting India's use of yoga as a tool of cultural diplomacy since the UN declaration in 2014.
What is Maharana Pratap Swarn Jayanti Park in Gurugram?
Maharana Pratap Swarn Jayanti Park , popularly called Laser Valley , is one of Gurugram's largest public green spaces and a regular venue for mass public events in the city.
