International Yoga Day 2025: Northeast leaders thank PM Modi for global recognition
Synopsis
Northeast India's Yoga Day observances went beyond mass sessions — they became a political moment of gratitude toward PM Modi, whose 2014 UN pitch turned a centuries-old Indian practice into a global annual event now reportedly linked to Olympic programming. The breadth of participation, from Eastern Air Command in Shillong to public venues across Manipur, signals how deeply the observance has embedded itself in institutional life.
Key Takeaways
International Day of Yoga was observed across Northeast India on 21 June 2025 , with events at schools, colleges, military establishments, and public venues.
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma attended the Yoga Day event at Eastern Air Command, Shillong , alongside armed forces personnel and state officials.
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh noted that Yoga Day was launched by PM Modi with support from 127 countries and has since been linked to Olympic events.
Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh credited Modi for securing UN recognition of 21 June as International Day of Yoga.
PM Narendra Modi participated in the main national Yoga Day programme in Kolkata .
International Day of Yoga was observed across Northeast India on Sunday, 21 June, with leaders from Meghalaya and Manipur crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for elevating yoga into a globally celebrated practice. The regional observances were part of nationwide events, with Modi himself participating in the main programme in Kolkata.
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma's Tribute
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma attended the Yoga Day event in Shillong, held at the Eastern Air Command headquarters, alongside armed forces personnel, state government officials, and members of the public. Sangma thanked the Prime Minister for taking yoga to the world stage.
He said, 'I would like to thank the Prime Minister for ensuring that the entire world would celebrate 21st June as International Day of Yoga. I thank the Defence Minister who had taken the trouble and the initiative to be here in Shillong in the Eastern Air Command to be part of and celebrate International Day of Yoga here with the armed forces and with the administration and government officials of the state...'
Manipur Leaders Highlight Olympic Recognition
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh noted the remarkable international journey of the annual observance. He said, 'International Yoga Day on June 21 was started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the support of 127 countries. Now it has been included in the Olympic events...'
Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh echoed those sentiments, crediting Modi for securing United Nations recognition of 21 June as International Day of Yoga. He urged citizens to incorporate yoga into their daily routines, emphasising its role in promoting physical fitness, mental well-being, and a healthy lifestyle.
Region-Wide Celebrations
Across the Northeast, yoga sessions were organised at schools, colleges, government institutions, military establishments, and public venues. The breadth of participation — from uniformed personnel to schoolchildren — reflected the event's growing reach beyond symbolic observance into mainstream public health practice.
Yoga's Growing Global Footprint
First proposed by Prime Minister Modi at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, International Day of Yoga received unprecedented support from 177 UN member states before being formally declared. The annual observance now draws participation from millions worldwide, reinforcing yoga's standing as one of India's most consequential cultural exports. Notably, the claim that yoga has been 'included in the Olympic events' — as stated by the Manipur Chief Minister — refers to its growing presence in Olympic wellness and cultural programming rather than as a competitive sport, and should be understood in that context.
Point of View
And mainstream coverage has largely let it pass unchallenged. More substantively, the annual observance has succeeded where many soft-power initiatives have not — it has achieved genuine global institutionalisation. The harder question is whether that global brand translates into measurable public health outcomes domestically, particularly in states like Manipur where community stress levels remain high.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is International Day of Yoga celebrated and who proposed it?
International Day of Yoga is celebrated every year on 21 June . It was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014 and received support from 177 UN member states before being formally declared.
How was International Day of Yoga 2025 observed in Northeast India?
Yoga sessions were held across schools, colleges, government institutions, military establishments, and public venues throughout the Northeast. Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma attended an event at the Eastern Air Command in Shillong, while Manipur's Chief Minister and Home Minister led separate observances in their state.
What did Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh say about yoga and the Olympics?
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh stated that International Yoga Day was started by PM Modi with support from 127 countries and that yoga has since been included in Olympic events. This is understood to refer to yoga's presence in Olympic wellness and cultural programming rather than as a competitive discipline.
Where did PM Modi participate in Yoga Day 2025?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the main national Yoga Day programme in Kolkata on 21 June 2025, as part of the nationwide observances.
Why do Northeast leaders credit PM Modi for International Day of Yoga?
Leaders credit Modi because he was the driving force behind the United Nations' recognition of 21 June as International Day of Yoga, having proposed it at the UN General Assembly in 2014. The initiative secured backing from a record number of countries, elevating yoga to a globally observed annual event.
