Indian missions gear up ahead of 12th International Yoga Day
Beijing, June 20
Indian embassies and missions across the world are holding celebrations as the countdown to the 12th International Yoga Day begins, drawing in thousands of practitioners and enthusiasts globally.
In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in China shared glimpses from the celebration in Beijing where scores of people actively participated in the yoga session.
"Mats rolled out, movement in flow, mindfulness in focus - more glimpses from the 12th International Day of Yoga celebrations in Beijing, organised by the Embassy of India.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Japan said that it would hold the celebrations on Sunday at the Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple and invited people to come over as they engage in the ancient practice synchronizing harmony between the body, mind and soul.
In Oman, Ambassdor Prashant Pise invited members of the Indian community and friends of India to the Yoga Day celebrations which will take place at the Embassy tomorrow.
Earlier on Saturday, the Indian Embassy in Nepal, in coordination with the Lumbini Development Trust, BP Koirala India Nepal Foundation, organised a Yoga Day event, which was attended by senior officials and hundreds of yoga enthusiasts.
In India, the Russian Embassy in New Delhi on Saturday hosted a session on Yoga ahead of the International Yoga Day celebrations on Sunday, with a senior diplomat sharing how the ancient practice has gained immense popularity across Russia.
The United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014, following the proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address at the opening of the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, 2014.
This ushered in an era of holistic health revolution, in which attention was given to prevention rather than cure. Since its first edition in 2015, India has led the celebration globally under the aegis of the Ministry of AYUSH, with active support from state governments, Indian missions abroad and UN agencies.
2026 marks the 12th year of International Yoga Day. The theme for this year's observance is "Yoga for Healthy Ageing", which highlights the role of yoga in helping people remain active, independent and engaged across all age groups.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see embassies in China, Japan, Nepal, and Oman all participating. The Russian Embassy hosting yoga in Delhi is a beautiful example of cultural exchange. But honestly, I wish the government focused equally on preserving indigenous yoga traditions in rural India, not just flashy global events.
As someone who started yoga after moving to India for work, I can vouch for its transformative power. The fact that it's now celebrated in Beijing's embassy or Tokyo's temple shows how universal this practice is. The Lumbini event in Nepal, Buddha's birthplace, feels especially symbolic. 🌏
Happy International Yoga Day in advance! I've been practising since 2015 and it's been a game-changer for my stress and back pain. But sometimes these big celebrations feel more like PR stunts. I hope the Ministry of AYUSH also works on making yoga accessible in schools and old age homes across India.
Excellent! Yoga as a tool for healthy ageing is brilliant. My 70-year-old mother does yoga daily and is more flexible than me! 😅 The fact that Russian Embassy in Delhi participated shows the global acceptance. India should continue this legacy with genuine intent, not just for photo ops.
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