CM Dhami Shares Live Update of PM Modi at 12th International Yoga Day
Synopsis
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami shared a live update on 21 June 2026 of PM Narendra Modi participating in the 12th International Day of Yoga's main national event held in Kolkata, West Bengal, themed around healthy ageing.
Key Takeaways
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami shared a live update of PM Narendra Modi at the 12th International Day of Yoga on 21 June 2026 .
The central national event was held in Kolkata, West Bengal , selected as the host city for this year's flagship programme.
The 2026 theme is centred on healthy ageing , as reflected in the hashtag #YogaForHealthyAgeing .
The International Day of Yoga was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2014 on PM Modi's proposal and first observed in 2015 .
The Ministry of AYUSH coordinates the annual national programme, which rotates across state capitals to broaden federal outreach.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami shared a live update on Sunday, 21 June 2026, announcing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's participation in the main national event marking the 12th International Day of Yoga, held in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Dhami's post, shared at 8:39 AM IST, captured the Prime Minister joining the yoga observance in Kolkata — the city selected as the venue for this year's central national programme. The post carried the hashtags #YogaForHealthyAgeing and #InternationalYogaDay2026, reflecting the theme of the 2026 edition.
Context
The International Day of Yoga is observed every year on 21 June. The United Nations General Assembly adopted the date in December 2014 following a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the first global observance was held in 2015. The 2026 edition marks the 12th consecutive year of the observance worldwide.
The central government's Ministry of AYUSH coordinates the national programme each year, with the main event rotating across different state capitals to extend federal outreach. Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, hosts the flagship event this year.
Policy Backdrop
Successive Indian administrations have positioned yoga as a tool of both cultural diplomacy and public health. The Ministry of AYUSH has progressively linked traditional wellness practices to national health missions, with a growing emphasis on geriatric care and healthy ageing — themes that align directly with this year's focus on #YogaForHealthyAgeing.
India's demographic profile, with a rapidly expanding elderly population, has lent policy urgency to integrating yoga-based protocols into mainstream healthcare. Annual Yoga Day events serve as a platform to amplify these initiatives at scale, drawing participation from millions of citizens across the country.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary beneficiaries of the 'healthy ageing' theme are India's elderly citizens and the broader community of yoga practitioners. By holding the national event in Kolkata, the government signals outreach to West Bengal, a state with significant political and cultural weight.
Chief Minister Dhami's decision to amplify the Prime Minister's participation underscores the BJP's coordinated messaging around the event, with state-level leaders reinforcing the national programme's visibility on social media. The live broadcast format also reflects a broader shift toward real-time digital engagement with government events.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to the Ministry of AYUSH's post-event rollout of state-level yoga protocols, particularly any new guidelines aimed at integrating yoga into geriatric care frameworks under existing national health missions. The 'healthy ageing' theme is expected to inform policy documents and public health advisories in the months following the observance.
As India's yoga diplomacy continues to expand globally, the annual event also sets the tone for bilateral cultural engagements, with Indian missions abroad hosting parallel programmes on 21 June each year.
Point of View
Reinforcing the party's ownership of the yoga brand. The choice of Kolkata as the host city carries political subtext, given West Bengal's electoral significance and the BJP's ongoing effort to deepen its presence there. The 'healthy ageing' theme also signals a policy pivot — aligning yoga with India's demographic challenge of a growing elderly population, potentially presaging new AYUSH guidelines on geriatric wellness. Taken together, the event functions simultaneously as cultural diplomacy, public health outreach, and political messaging.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the 12th International Day of Yoga main event held in India?
The main national event for the 12th International Day of Yoga was held in Kolkata, West Bengal, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated on 21 June 2026.
What is the theme of International Yoga Day 2026?
The 2026 International Day of Yoga is themed around healthy ageing, as indicated by the hashtag #YogaForHealthyAgeing used in official communications.
Who proposed International Day of Yoga at the United Nations?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the International Day of Yoga at the UN General Assembly, which adopted 21 June as the annual observance in December 2014.
Why did CM Dhami post about PM Modi's yoga day participation?
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami shared a live update of PM Modi's participation to amplify the national event on social media, a common practice among BJP state leaders during major central government programmes.
Which ministry organises International Day of Yoga in India?
The Ministry of AYUSH coordinates India's national International Day of Yoga programme each year, including the central event and state-level activities.
