Yoga Day 2025: Vaishnaw calls yoga India's gift to the world at Bikaner event
Synopsis
On International Day of Yoga, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw led a mass session at Bikaner's Karni Singh Stadium, calling yoga India's greatest cultural export and crediting PM Modi for its global rise. The event underscores how India continues to use 21 June as a platform for both public health messaging and soft-power projection.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and MoS Arjun Ram Meghwal participated in International Day of Yoga celebrations on 21 June in Bikaner, Rajasthan .
The mass yoga session was held at Karni Singh Stadium , drawing students, youth, women, and government officials.
Vaishnaw credited PM Narendra Modi's leadership for yoga's growing global recognition.
Meghwal described yoga as central to Indian culture and essential for building a 'strong society and a developed nation'.
The UN designated 21 June as International Day of Yoga in 2014 following PM Modi's proposal at the UN General Assembly.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on 21 June described yoga as India's ancient and invaluable heritage now embraced across the globe, as he joined mass International Day of Yoga celebrations in Rajasthan. The event, held at Karni Singh Stadium in Bikaner, drew school students, youth, women, social organisation representatives, and government officials.
Ministers Lead Mass Yoga Session
Vaishnaw participated alongside Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal, both conveying the message of healthy living and the enduring relevance of yoga. Participants performed various yoga asanas, pranayama, and meditation exercises under the supervision of trained instructors, according to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
What Vaishnaw Said
Addressing the gathering, Vaishnaw credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for elevating yoga's global standing. He called it 'a powerful tool for promoting physical, mental and emotional well-being' and urged citizens to make it a daily practice. 'Yoga is India's ancient and invaluable heritage, which is now being embraced by the entire world. Regular yoga practice helps individuals remain healthy, energetic and mentally strong,' he said.
Meghwal on Yoga and Nation-Building
Meghwal described yoga as integral to Indian culture and philosophy of life, stressing that a healthy body and a healthy mind are prerequisites for building a strong society and a developed nation. He noted that yoga instils discipline, self-control, and balance — qualities he said every citizen should cultivate.
Significance of the Day
The United Nations designated 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014, following a proposal by Prime Minister Modi at the UN General Assembly. Since then, India has consistently used the occasion to project yoga as a cornerstone of its soft-power diplomacy. This year's Bikaner event is one of hundreds held simultaneously across the country and in Indian missions abroad, reflecting the scale of institutional commitment to the observance.
Point of View
Stadiums filled, and the messaging was uniform. What deserves scrutiny is whether the institutional energy translates into measurable public health outcomes, or whether 21 June remains largely a ceremonial exercise. The soft-power dividend is real and documented; the domestic health impact is harder to quantify. As yoga's global market balloons — estimated in billions of dollars — India's ability to convert cultural ownership into economic and diplomatic leverage will be the real test of this annual investment.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is International Day of Yoga and when is it observed?
International Day of Yoga is observed every year on 21 June. The United Nations designated the date in 2014 following a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN General Assembly.
Where did Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw participate in Yoga Day 2025?
Vaishnaw participated in a mass yoga session at Karni Singh Stadium in Bikaner, Rajasthan, on 21 June 2025. He was joined by Minister of State Arjun Ram Meghwal.
What did Ashwini Vaishnaw say about yoga at the Bikaner event?
Vaishnaw described yoga as 'India's ancient and invaluable heritage' now embraced worldwide, and credited PM Modi's leadership for its global recognition. He urged citizens to make yoga a part of their daily routine.
Who else participated in the Bikaner Yoga Day event?
Alongside the two ministers, a large number of school students, youth, women, representatives of social organisations, and officials from various government departments took part. Participants performed asanas, pranayama, and meditation under trained instructors.
Why does India place such emphasis on International Day of Yoga?
India uses the occasion both as a public health initiative and as an instrument of soft-power diplomacy, projecting yoga as a cultural contribution to the world. Events are held simultaneously across the country and at Indian missions abroad.
