Chief Minister Nayab Saini of Haryana participated in a yoga session on Monday, June 1, 2026, at Maharana Pratap Swarn Jayanti Park (Laser Valley) in Gurugram as part of the run-up to the 12th International Yoga Day. The event, organised under the series of programmes preceding the global observance on 21 June, saw the Chief Minister lead citizens in a public yoga practice.

Context

Speaking at the occasion, CM Saini credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for elevating yoga to international prominence. He stated that through the Prime Minister's efforts, yoga has today become a symbol of India's ancient heritage across the world and stands as a representation of health, balance, and peace — 'स्वास्थ्य, संतुलन एवं शांति का प्रतीक' (a symbol of health, balance, and peace). He added that under PM Modi's leadership, International Yoga Day has established a distinct identity at the global level.

The event at Laser Valley in Gurugram is among a series of state-level programmes being held across Haryana in the weeks leading up to the main observance. Such pre-event sessions are a consistent feature of the annual calendar in the state.

Policy Backdrop

International Yoga Day was first observed worldwide on 21 June 2015, following a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, proposed by Prime Minister Modi. The resolution received support from a record number of UN member states, making it one of the most widely co-sponsored resolutions in the body's history.

Since 2015, the central government has used International Yoga Day as a platform for cultural diplomacy, positioning yoga as India's contribution to global wellness. State governments, including Haryana, have consistently aligned their own programmes with this national push, organising mass yoga sessions, awareness drives, and official events in the weeks surrounding 21 June.

Stakeholders and Impact

The event directly engages Haryana's citizens and yoga practitioners, with public parks serving as accessible venues for participation. Maharana Pratap Swarn Jayanti Park, also known as Laser Valley, is one of Gurugram's prominent green spaces, making it a fitting venue for a large-scale public wellness activity.

For the BJP-led state government under CM Saini, participation in such events also reinforces alignment with the central government's cultural and wellness agenda. The 12th edition of the observance continues the pattern of year-on-year state-level engagement that has grown since 2015.

What's Next

The main International Yoga Day observance is scheduled for 21 June 2026, when large-scale events are expected at state and national levels across India. Haryana is likely to host further programmes in the remaining days of the run-up period, potentially including mass yoga gatherings in multiple districts.

As the 12th edition of the global observance approaches, state governments' continued and visible participation signals that International Yoga Day has become a durable fixture in India's official public-health and cultural calendar — one that now commands institutional momentum well beyond its origins as a diplomatic initiative.