Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 21 June 2025 led the national celebrations of the 12th International Day of Yoga from Red Road in Kolkata, marking one of the largest Yoga Day observances the city has ever hosted. The event was held under the theme 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing', underscoring yoga's role in promoting physical well-being, mental health, and holistic lifestyles across all age groups.

Scale of the Celebrations

Approximately 35,000 participants joined Prime Minister Modi at the Red Road venue to perform the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP). Across Kolkata, nearly 10 lakh people were anticipated to take part in synchronised yoga sessions at various locations throughout the city, making it one of the most expansive Yoga Day gatherings in the country.

Global Footprint

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, stated that more than 210 Indian Missions abroad, in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), conducted Yoga Day programmes at nearly 2,500 locations worldwide. The minister noted that yoga has grown into a global movement for health and wellness since the United Nations General Assembly adopted India's proposal to observe the International Day of Yoga in 2014.

Yoga Sangam Portal Milestone

Ahead of the celebrations, the Ministry of Ayush's Yoga Sangam Portal crossed six lakh organisational registrations, with registrations continuing to climb. The Ministry described the response as evidence of unprecedented participation from institutions, communities, and organisations across the country.

What the Theme Signals

The 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' theme carries particular relevance for India, where a rapidly ageing population is placing growing pressure on public health infrastructure. By centering the discourse on preventive wellness, the event reinforces the government's broader push to position yoga — and the Ministry of Ayush more broadly — as a pillar of national health policy. This is the 12th consecutive year of International Yoga Day, and the choice of Kolkata as the national host city signals an effort to deepen the event's reach beyond its traditional strongholds in northern and western India.

What Comes Next

Organisations registered on the Yoga Sangam Portal will continue conducting synchronised sessions based on the Common Yoga Protocol, virtually joining the nationwide movement. The Ministry of Ayush is expected to release participation data in the coming days, which will indicate whether this year's edition surpassed previous records.