Shekhawat Highlights Yoga at Heritage Sites for IDY 2026
Synopsis
On International Yoga Day 2026, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared images of yoga sessions at six iconic ASI-protected monuments — Purana Qila, Mehtab Bagh, Fatehpur Sikri, Khajuraho, Golconda Fort, and Bekal Fort — celebrating the union of yoga and India's heritage under the theme 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing'.
Key Takeaways
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat posted images of yoga sessions at six heritage sites on 21 June 2026 , International Yoga Day.
The six sites are Purana Qila (Delhi) , Mehtab Bagh (Agra) , Fatehpur Sikri (Agra) , Khajuraho temples (Madhya Pradesh) , Golconda Fort (Telangana) , and Bekal Fort (Kerala) .
All six monuments are protected and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India under the Ministry of Culture.
The 2026 edition of International Yoga Day carries the theme 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' , reflected in the minister's hashtag #YogaForHealthyAgeing .
International Yoga Day was first observed on 21 June 2015 following a UN resolution adopted in 2014 on PM Modi's proposal.
The post tagged five official handles — PMO India, ASI, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism, and Ministry of AYUSH — indicating a coordinated government observance.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Sunday, 21 June 2026 shared a series of striking images showcasing yoga sessions held at some of India's most iconic heritage monuments, calling the visuals 'extraordinary' as the country marked International Yoga Day 2026.
Posting on X with the hashtags #IDY2026 and #YogaForHealthyAgeing, Shekhawat wrote: 'योग का विरासत से योग' — loosely translated as 'Yoga meets heritage' — and spotlighted six landmark sites where the observance unfolded: Purana Qila in Delhi, Mehtab Bagh in Agra, Fatehpur Sikri in Agra, the temple precincts of Khajuraho, Golconda Fort in Telangana, and Bekal Fort in Kerala.
Context
International Yoga Day is observed every year on 21 June, a tradition that began after Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the global observance at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. The UN adopted resolution 69/131, and the first worldwide celebration took place on 21 June 2015. The 2026 edition carries the theme 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing', reflected in the minister's hashtag choice.
Shekhawat tagged @PMOIndia, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Ministry of AYUSH in his post, signalling a coordinated, cross-ministry observance at ASI-protected monuments.
Policy Backdrop
The practice of staging yoga events at heritage monuments is part of a deliberate cultural-diplomacy strategy that successive administrations have pursued since 2015. The Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of AYUSH have run joint campaigns using iconic sites to attract both domestic and foreign visitors during the June observance.
The Archaeological Survey of India, which operates under the Ministry of Culture, is the custodian of all six sites mentioned by Shekhawat — from the 16th-century Purana Qila in Delhi to the 17th-century coastal Bekal Fort in Kerala. The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Madhya Pradesh, lending added international visibility to the event.
Stakeholders and Impact
The multi-site format broadens the reach of International Yoga Day beyond a single flagship venue, drawing in heritage tourists, yoga practitioners, and local communities across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala. Using visually arresting backdrops — a Mughal fort, a riverside garden facing the Taj Mahal, a medieval temple complex, a Deccan citadel, and a coastal fortification — amplifies the event's appeal on social and digital media.
For the tourism sector, the imagery serves a dual purpose: promoting yoga as a wellness offering and reinforcing India's heritage circuit as a year-round destination for international visitors.
What's Next
With the Ministry of Culture, ASI, Ministry of Tourism, and Ministry of AYUSH all tagged in the minister's post, formal documentation of the 2026 events — including participant numbers, official programmes, and site-specific reports — is expected to follow from the respective ministries. The government is likely to use the imagery and outreach from IDY 2026 to build momentum for future editions and to reinforce yoga's place at the centre of India's soft-power narrative.
Point of View
Using six geographically diverse ASI monuments to project cultural continuity and national unity on a globally visible occasion. The deliberate spread across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala signals an intent to make International Yoga Day a pan-India, cross-regional event rather than a Delhi-centric spectacle. Tagging PMO India alongside the ministries of Culture, Tourism, and AYUSH underlines that this is a whole-of-government communication exercise, not a solo ministerial gesture. As India's soft-power competition with other Asian nations intensifies, the fusion of yoga with UNESCO-listed and globally recognised heritage sites is likely to remain a core pillar of the Ministry of Culture's annual calendar.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where were yoga events held on International Yoga Day 2026?
Yoga events on International Yoga Day 2026 were held at six heritage sites: Purana Qila in Delhi, Mehtab Bagh and Fatehpur Sikri in Agra, the temple precincts of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, Golconda Fort in Telangana, and Bekal Fort in Kerala.
What is the theme of International Yoga Day 2026?
The theme of International Yoga Day 2026 is 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing', as indicated by the official hashtag #YogaForHealthyAgeing used in Minister Shekhawat's post.
When did International Yoga Day start and who proposed it?
International Yoga Day was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN General Assembly in 2014. The UN adopted resolution 69/131, and the first global observance was held on 21 June 2015.
Which government body manages the heritage sites used for Yoga Day events?
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which functions under the Ministry of Culture, is the custodian and manager of all six heritage monuments featured in Minister Shekhawat's International Yoga Day 2026 post.
Why does India hold yoga events at heritage monuments?
India holds yoga events at heritage monuments to link physical well-being with the country's tangible cultural legacy, boost heritage tourism, and amplify India's soft-power image internationally through visually striking imagery on social media.
