International Yoga Day 2025: Thousands gather in Chandigarh, Haryana for 12th edition
Synopsis
From Tiranga Urban Park in Chandigarh to the Attari zero line where BSF jawans unrolled their mats, the 12th International Yoga Day drew thousands across Chandigarh, Haryana, and Punjab on 21 June 2025. With 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' as the theme, the day signalled a clear pivot from symbolic observance to a mainstream public health movement.
Key Takeaways
Thousands participated in 12th International Yoga Day events across Chandigarh , Haryana , and Punjab on 21 June 2025 .
This year's theme was 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' , focusing on holistic health across age groups.
The main Chandigarh event was held at Tiranga Urban Park, Sector 17 ; Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria participated.
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini led the state's main session in Panchkula ; ministers attended events at all district headquarters.
BSF personnel performed yoga at the zero line at Attari near Amritsar.
Over 350 people joined the 'Livathon — Yoga for Life' event at Sukhna Lake on the eve of the day.
Thousands of residents and officials across Chandigarh, Haryana, and Punjab marked the 12th International Yoga Day on Sunday, 21 June 2025, with mass yoga sessions held at over 100 locations, reflecting the growing mainstream embrace of yoga as a public health practice. This year's theme, 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing', anchored the day's events in a message of holistic wellness across age groups.
Key Events in Chandigarh
The main event in Chandigarh — the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana — was held at Tiranga Urban Park, Sector 17, drawing a large crowd early in the morning. Punjab Governor and Union Territory Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria joined participants in the session. Separately, Yogacharya Balwinder Kumar led journalists and their family members through a yoga session at the Chandigarh Press Club.
On the eve of the day, over 350 people participated in the 'Livathon — Yoga for Life' event at Sukhna Lake, with senior citizens, youth, health experts, and fitness enthusiasts practising under certified yoga instructors.
Haryana and Punjab Participation
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini led Cabinet colleagues and government functionaries at the main state event in Panchkula. A majority of ministers fanned out to district headquarters across the state to mark the occasion.
In Punjab, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national President Nitin Nabin participated in the International Yoga Day event at Lovely Professional University (LPU) near Jalandhar, alongside hundreds of party workers. In a striking display, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel performed yoga at the zero line at the joint check post at Attari, near Amritsar.
Healthcare and Institutional Sessions
At the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, the CCRYN — Collaborative Centre for Mind Body Intervention through Yoga — conducted a mass yoga session involving healthcare professionals, faculty, students, staff, and yoga enthusiasts. The participation of medical professionals at a premier institution underscored the theme of yoga's role in preventive and healthy ageing frameworks.
Broader Significance
International Yoga Day, observed globally on 21 June each year since 2015 following a United Nations resolution championed by India, has grown into one of the world's largest annual wellness observances. The 2025 edition's focus on healthy ageing is particularly resonant for India, where the population aged 60 and above is projected to double by 2050, according to demographic data. The scale of participation across Chandigarh, Haryana, and Punjab this year reflects how the observance has moved well beyond ceremonial to become a community health event.
Point of View
The scale of participation in Chandigarh, Haryana, and Punjab reflects genuine grassroots uptake — not just official optics. The BSF performing yoga at the Attari zero line is a deliberate image, but the 350-strong Sukhna Lake session and 100-plus community locations suggest the day has outgrown its political scaffolding. The 'Healthy Ageing' theme is well-timed: India's elder-care infrastructure remains underprepared for a demographic surge, and if yoga can be institutionalised as preventive medicine — as PGIMER's CCRYN model attempts — the public health dividend could be substantial. The question is whether annual observances translate into year-round practice, or remain a calendar event.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is International Yoga Day and when is it observed?
International Yoga Day is a globally observed annual event on 21 June , established by a United Nations resolution in 2015 following a proposal by India. It promotes the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of yoga worldwide.
What was the theme of International Yoga Day 2025?
The theme for the 12th International Yoga Day on 21 June 2025 was 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' , emphasising yoga's role in holistic health and wellness across all age groups, particularly for older populations.
Which senior officials participated in Yoga Day 2025 events in Chandigarh and Haryana?
Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria participated in the main Chandigarh event at Tiranga Urban Park. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini led the state event in Panchkula, joined by Cabinet colleagues and government functionaries.
Where did BSF personnel perform yoga on International Yoga Day 2025?
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel performed yoga at the zero line at the joint check post at Attari , near Amritsar, Punjab, on 21 June 2025.
How many locations hosted Yoga Day events in Chandigarh?
Yoga Day events in Chandigarh were held at over 100 locations , organised by yoga associations and non-governmental organisations, reflecting wide community participation in the city.
