The International Day of Yoga, celebrated annually on June 21st, was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. This day highlights the holistic benefits of yoga, an ancient physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in India. Yoga is renowned for promoting physical health, mental clarity, and spiritual growth, making it a powerful tool for overall well-being. The date, June 21st, was chosen as it is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, symbolizing the light and energy yoga brings into practitioners' lives.
On this day, millions around the world gather to practice yoga in public spaces, parks, and community centers. Events often include mass yoga sessions, educational workshops, and discussions on the benefits of yoga and its impact on mental health and wellness. The celebration aims to raise awareness of the many advantages of practicing yoga and to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to incorporate yoga into their daily lives.
Addressing the gathering, the speaker highlighted the nationwide cultural renaissance underway across India, citing the transformation of Kashi Vishwanath Dham, the Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya, Mahakal Mahalok in Ujjain, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, including the installation of Adi Shankaracharya's statue. Over the past 12 years, more than 650 stolen ancient idols have been repatriated to the country from abroad, while numerous cultural centres have gained recognition as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Pointing to the legacy of Swami Chinmayananda and the creation of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial initiated by Eknath Ranade, the speech underscored education in the mother tongue, modern science, and technology. Emphasising national self-reliance and unity against divisive forces, the address linked the Chinmaya Mission centenary with India completing 100 years of independence in 2047 under the shared goal of building a Viksit Bharat.
A bilateral summit highlighted plans to elevate economic and strategic relations through a comprehensive strategic partnership. Key outcomes include establishing a coordination council at the foreign minister level, upgrading the joint commission to minister level, and organizing a joint business summit. Both sides agreed to work on a long-term strategy for uranium supply and finalized three sister city and sister state arrangements. Discussions covered model urbanization projects, comparing developments like Gift City in Gujarat with major initiatives in Tashkent. The talks also focused on expanding bilateral trade beyond one billion dollars, boosting joint ventures, and increasing direct weekly flights. Cultural ties were emphasized alongside the introduction of a thirty-day visa-free regime for visitors. Strategic cooperation across critical minerals, technology, pharmaceuticals, and defense sectors continues to deepen regional engagement across Central Asia.
An India Today special broadcast on International Yoga Day explores the diverse health benefits of yoga beyond basic stretching. The team travels to Bangalore to experience various practices, including water meditation, which helps cool the body and calm the nervous system.
Prime Minister Narenrda Modi and President Droupadi Murmu are on a visit to Odisha's Mayurbhanj district to celebrate the President's 68th birthday in her hometown of Paharpur. During the visit, both leaders offered prayers at the sacred Santali Jahera and Ho Jahera groves, participating in traditional nature-based worship revered by the local tribal communities.
The Delhi High Court has upheld the central government's temporary ban on the messaging application Telegram until June 22 to prevent misinformation and paper leaks ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination on June 21.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal on a two-day trip tomorrow to participate in the state's foundation day celebrations and launch key development projects.
On this Special Report, anchor Preeti Choudhry provides live commentary on the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path, highlighting the vibrant tableaus from various states and Union Ministries. The broadcast showcases Assam's terracotta art, Gujarat's 'Vande Mataram' theme, and Tamil Nadu's focus on self-reliance. Preeti Choudhry notes that the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship's float is 'Building a Self-Reliant Future-Ready India' while the Ministry of Home Affairs features the historic enactment of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The programme emphasizes India's 'Atmanirbharata' or self-reliance, alongside its ancient traditions like Ayurveda and Yoga represented by the Ministry of Ayush. Guest Sandeep joins the discussion, comparing India's diversity to the European Union and praising the improving aesthetics of the floats. The report captures the essence of India's cultural heritage and its journey toward becoming a future-ready nation through these 31 distinct tableaus.
In an exclusive interaction with India Today, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu endorsed Prime Minister Modi’s message on Yoga, saying it can bring peace to the world by reducing violence. He noted that people in Visakhapatnam are increasingly incorporating yoga into their daily lives. On the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, Naidu stressed that war is not the solution and emphasised the need for dialogue and peace.
Andhra Pradesh Minister Narendra Lokesh speaks to India Today, praising Prime Minister Modi's message on International Yoga Day. Over two crore people participated in yoga events across Andhra Pradesh, with Visakhapatnam breaking the Guinness World Record previously held by Surat. The Prime Minister emphasized reducing oil consumption and making yoga a way of life. The state government organized month-long yoga programs at tourist spots to promote both yoga and tourism.
Marking International Day of Yoga 2025, yoga enthusiasts in Gujarat's Surat took their practice to a new level by performing yoga asanas in a water pool.
Tamil Nadu Governor Ravindra Narayana Ravi left the crowd stunned during International Yoga Day celebrations at Velammal Educational Institution in Madurai on Saturday. Joining over 10,000 students, he led the yoga session with enthusiasm and capped it off with an astonishing display of fitness completing 51 consecutive push-ups, earning thunderous applause and admiration from the audience.
This episode of So Sorry is a hilarious take on PM Modi is performing Yoga on International Yoga Day and India destroying terror camps in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on International Yoga Day, emphasizing the theme 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health'. He highlighted the interconnectedness of human well-being with the health of the environment. The Prime Minister also focused on the global challenge of obesity, urging people to reduce oil consumption in their diet by 10%. Yoga celebrations were observed across India, including at Atal Parth in Bhopal and India Gate in New Delhi, with participants from various age groups.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing troops in Udhampur, said Pakistan was forced to kneel after India’s strong retaliation to the Pahalgam attack. He warned that any future act of terrorism would come at a heavy cost for Islamabad. Reaffirming India's stance, Singh stated that Operation Sindoor is only on pause and Pakistan’s attempts to inflict harm through terror will never succeed.
The Prime Minister addresses the 11th International Yoga Day celebrations in Visakhapatnam. He highlights yoga's role in uniting the world and its importance for global health. The PM emphasizes the theme 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health' and calls for making yoga a global partnership beyond personal practice. He also mentions the 'Yogendra Abhiyan' initiative in Andhra Pradesh and urges a 10% reduction in oil consumption for better health.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta performed yoga aboard boats floating on the Yamuna River.
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel performed yoga the India-Pakistan international border as part of the nationwide celebration.
PM Modi is leading the national celebration from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, performing the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) with over 3 lakh participants.
Visakhapatnam is set to host a massive International Yoga Day celebration with Prime Minister Narendra Modi joining over 5,00,000 participants along a 26-kilometre stretch from RK Beach to Bheemili Beach.
People celebrated the 10th International Yoga Day at a great scale across the world and asserted that the ancient Indian practice has become a unifying force, bringing together people across cultures and backgrounds. But, how can yoga help people in the modern lifestyle? Interestingly, it plays a major role in strengthening the body. The doctor recommends performing yoga on a daily basis. Yoga consists of many stretching exercises. Usually, people start to lose their muscle mass around 50 and 40. The International Day of Yoga is celebrated annually on June 21 to create awareness about its vast potential to improve overall health and well-being.
