On the occasion of the 12th International Day of Yoga on 21 June, political leaders and citizens across Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar gathered to celebrate the ancient practice, emphasising its role in promoting mental and physical wellbeing, reducing stress, and keeping people free from addiction.

Key Voices from Jammu and Kashmir

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravinder Raina underscored yoga's dual benefit for the body and the mind. 'Yoga is an important part of life. While on one hand it keeps a person healthy and on the other it ensures positivity of mind and soul. This day conveys a message to regularly practise yoga for both mental and physical wellbeing,' he said.

Raina also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for elevating yoga on the global stage. 'International Yoga Day is being celebrated with great enthusiasm across the world today. Our esteemed Prime Minister Modi has called upon the entire world to adopt yoga, urging every individual to incorporate it into their daily lives. It is a proud moment that the entire world is embracing India's ancient tradition,' he added.

BJP MP Jugal Kishore Sharma echoed the sentiment, stating: 'If the citizens stay healthy, the country too will remain so.' He called on families to encourage children to practise yoga regularly, noting it builds concentration and supports overall development.

Yoga in Water: A Unique Initiative in Jammu

A swimming instructor in Jammu has been conducting 'water yoga' sessions, blending aquatic fitness with traditional yoga. 'I take swimming classes, so I am also conducting yoga in water since it is a very important activity for young and old alike,' he said. He drew a parallel between swimming as a life skill and yoga as a tool for holistic improvement, noting yoga's flexibility — it can be practised at home, at any hour, without equipment or fixed schedules.

A participant at the Jammu event, who has been practising yoga for two years, said the discipline has improved lung health and helped in staying away from addiction. 'We also promote and practice yoga through Youth Services and Sports,' he noted.

Bihar Pushes for Yoga in Schools

In Patna, Bihar Health Minister Nishant Kumar announced that he has formally requested the Chief Minister to introduce yoga in the curriculum of all schools and colleges across the state. 'I have requested the Chief Minister to include yoga in the curriculum of all schools and colleges in Bihar. There should be half-an-hour classes where various kinds of yoga and meditation will be taught to students,' he said, adding that attendance would not be mandatory.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, addressed a Yoga Day event in Bihar, calling yoga the only true path to health. 'There is no other way to stay healthy. Yoga also purifies the mind. When the mind is pure, positive thoughts will come to your mind, leading to progress and upliftment of an individual,' he said.

Giriraj Singh: Yoga Is India's Gift to the World

In Muzaffarpur, Union Minister Giriraj Singh described the International Day of Yoga as 'a gift to the world from India,' appealing to citizens to make yoga a daily habit. His remarks reflect the broader government push to position India as the global origin point of yoga — a narrative that has gained significant traction since the United Nations recognised 21 June as International Yoga Day in 2015, following a proposal by Prime Minister Modi.

What Comes Next

Bihar's proposal to embed yoga into school and college curricula, if approved by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, could make the state one of the first to formally institutionalise the practice in academic settings. With Yoga Day celebrations growing in scale each year, the push from both central and state leaders signals that yoga is increasingly being treated not just as a wellness practice but as a public health policy tool.