Gujarat launches 225 summer yoga camps for children from May 16
Synopsis
Gujarat is deploying 225 yoga camps across cities, talukas, and villages for two weeks starting 16 May — a statewide push to pull children away from screens and into structured wellness routines ahead of International Yoga Day. The scale and geographic spread make it one of the state's largest single-season children's wellness drives.
Key Takeaways
The Gujarat State Yog Board will run approximately 225 summer yoga camps from 16 May to 30 May 2026 .
Camps are open to children aged 7 to 15 and span cities, talukas, and villages across Gujarat.
Training will cover yogasanas , pranayama , meditation , and sessions on health awareness, Indian culture, and life values.
The initiative is linked to International Yoga Day observance and is backed by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi .
The programme specifically targets rising screen addiction , declining physical activity, and mental stress among school-age children.
The Gujarat State Yog Board will roll out approximately 225 summer yoga camps for children aged 7 to 15 across cities, talukas, and villages in the state from 16 May to 30 May 2026. The initiative, branded 'Summer Yoga Camp-2026', is timed to coincide with preparations for International Yoga Day and aims to steer children away from excessive screen time toward structured wellness practices during the summer break.
What the Camps Will Cover
Enrolled children will receive training in yogasanas, pranayama, meditation, subtle exercises, and recreational yoga activities. Sessions on physical fitness, mental concentration, health awareness, Indian culture, and life values will run alongside the core yoga modules.
Organisers have also planned special activities designed to build teamwork, leadership qualities, positivity, and disciplined routines. The camps are explicitly intended to help children spend time away from mobile phones and television screens.
Why the Board Launched This Programme
The initiative comes amid documented concern over rising mobile phone dependency among children, declining physical activity, mounting mental stress, and irregular daily routines. The Board stated that yoga could serve as 'an effective and natural solution to the growing health issues among children' in the digital age.
According to the Board, regular yoga practice can improve flexibility, memory, self-confidence, and mental stability — qualities it described as critical for children's overall development. This is consistent with a broader national push to integrate wellness practices into school-age routines before sedentary habits become entrenched.
Political and Administrative Backing
The programme is being organised under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, with encouragement from Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and support from Minister of State for Sports Jayram Gamit. The Board also acknowledged the contribution of Gujarat State Yog Board Chairman Yogsevak Sheeshpal in advancing yoga outreach across the state.
The Board noted that yoga had received 'a new identity and global recognition' under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and had evolved into a global wellness movement — a framing that positions the camps within the Centre's broader International Yoga Day calendar.
How to Enrol
The Board has appealed to parents, students, teachers, and community leaders to register as many children as possible. It described the camps as an opportunity for children to become 'responsible citizens of the nation and society with healthy bodies, positive minds and good values.' Registration details and further information are available on the official website of the Gujarat State Yog Board.
With the camps spanning the full two-week summer break window, organisers will be watching participation numbers closely — the scale of enrolment will determine whether the initiative expands in subsequent years.
Point of View
But the real measure of success will be actual enrolment numbers — not the number of camps set up. Screen-time concerns among children are well-founded and growing, yet government wellness initiatives in India have historically struggled with last-mile participation, particularly in rural talukas. Tying the camps to International Yoga Day gives them a promotional boost, but sustained behaviour change among children requires follow-through beyond a two-week window. If the Board publishes participation data post-event, it would set a useful accountability benchmark for future editions.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gujarat Summer Yoga Camp 2026?
It is a statewide initiative by the Gujarat State Yog Board to run approximately 225 yoga camps for children aged 7 to 15 from 16 May to 30 May 2026. The camps cover yogasanas, pranayama, meditation, and sessions on health and life values, and are timed to coincide with International Yoga Day observance.
Where will the yoga camps be held in Gujarat?
The camps will be held across cities, talukas, and villages throughout Gujarat, making it a statewide drive rather than an urban-only initiative.
Why is the Gujarat government organising these yoga camps?
The initiative responds to concerns over rising mobile phone dependency, reduced physical activity, mental stress, and irregular lifestyles among children. The Board has stated that yoga can serve as a natural solution to growing health issues in the digital age.
Who is backing the Summer Yoga Camp 2026 in Gujarat?
The programme is organised under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, with encouragement from Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and support from Minister of State for Sports Jayram Gamit. Gujarat State Yog Board Chairman Yogsevak Sheeshpal is also credited with driving yoga outreach in the state.
How can children register for the Gujarat yoga camps?
Registration details and further information are available on the official website of the Gujarat State Yog Board. Parents, teachers, and community leaders have been urged to enrol as many children as possible before the camps begin on 16 May 2026.
