International Yoga Day Turns 12: 12 Questions Answered on Yoga Sangam
Twelve years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the idea at the United Nations, International Day of Yoga returns on June 21 — its twelfth edition, and arguably its most ambitious yet. Here’s a quick-reference Q&A on how it began, why this date, and what’s different this year.
North Desk Bureau
Chandigarh, June 21
1. What is International Yoga Day, and why does the world mark it every June 21?
International Day of Yoga (IDY) is a United Nations-backed global observance built around yoga’s physical, mental and spiritual benefits. It falls on June 21 every year — the date tied to the summer solstice — and 2026 marks its 12th edition since the inaugural observance in 2015.
2. Who proposed it, and how did the idea originate?
Prime Minister Modi raised the proposal during his address to the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014, describing yoga as a gift from India’s ancient traditions to the world and pitching June 21 as the date.
3. How did the UN move so quickly to approve it?
Barely two and a half months after Modi’s speech, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 69/131 on December 11, 2014. It carried 177 co-sponsoring nations — the largest number of co-sponsors any UN resolution had drawn at the time — making it one of the fastest-adopted resolutions in UN history.
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4. What happened at the very first Yoga Day, in 2015?
New Delhi’s Rajpath hosted nearly 36,000 participants from 84 countries, performing 21 asanas over 35 minutes. The event entered the Guinness World Records twice over — for the largest yoga class at a single venue, and the most nationalities practising yoga together at one location.
5. Why was June 21 chosen specifically?
It’s the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere — the longest day of the year, and a date with no particular religious or national affiliation, which made it easier to build global consensus around.
6. Does June 21 carry meaning in yoga tradition beyond just being the longest day?
According to yogic tradition, the summer solstice marks the shift to Dakshinayana — the sun’s southward course — a period traditionally regarded as well-suited to spiritual practice and inward reflection.
7. How many countries take part today, and how has participation grown?
From 84 nations in 2015, IDY now draws participation from upwards of 190 countries. This year’s edition is being marked at roughly 2,500 locations worldwide, with India’s Ministry of AYUSH anchoring much of the coordination.
8. What is the “Common Yoga Protocol” referenced every year?
It’s a standardised 45-minute sequence of asanas, breathing exercises and meditation, devised so the same practice can be taught simultaneously at mass events across time zones. It was first rolled out for the 2015 Day and has anchored every official mass session since, including this year’s run-up event at Khajuraho.
9. What’s this year’s theme, and what does it mean?
Yoga Day: The 2026 theme is “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” unveiled by the Union Ayush Ministry. It frames yoga’s role in supporting balance, bone health, cognitive function and mood as people age — a deliberate response to the world’s rapidly ageing population.
10. Where is this year’s main event, and who is leading it?
Yoga Day: Kolkata is hosting the principal national event this year, led by PM Modi. Abroad, Times Square — one of the most recognisable IDY sites outside India — is being led this year by Modi’s own yoga instructor, HR Nagendra. India’s Permanent Mission to the UN also held a separate commemorative event in New York on June 18.
11. What is Yoga Sangam, and why does it matter this year?
Yoga Day: Yoga Sangam is the Ministry of AYUSH’s flagship community-participation platform for IDY 2026, unveiled by Union Minister of State Prataprao Jadhav at the 25-day countdown event in Khajuraho. Rather than requiring everyone to gather at one venue, the portal (yoga.ayush.gov.in) lets schools, colleges, resident welfare associations, government departments, NGOs and private organisations register their own sites and run synchronised sessions following the Common Yoga Protocol — turning the Day into thousands of simultaneous local events tied together digitally. Registrations have reportedly crossed 6–7 lakh organisations across all states and UTs and 778 districts, with West Bengal recording the highest participation, followed by Rajasthan, and officials were projecting the count could touch 10 lakh by day’s end.
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12. Do you need experience or equipment to take part?
No. IDY events worldwide are designed to be free and beginner-friendly — most are mass sessions in parks, public squares or community spaces, open to anyone regardless of fitness level, with nothing more than a mat needed.
Rakul Preet and other Bollywood actors
Akshar Yoga Kendraa, a Bengaluru-based wellness institution, had a different way to celebrate the Yoga Day by achieving ‘21 Guinness World Records in yogasnas.
The Akshar Yoga Kendraa statement said the success of the event led to a ‘historic global benchmark.’
Thousands of participants including yoga practitioners, students, professionals and older adults participated
These also included several Bollywood personalities such as Rakul Preet Singh who also extended their support to the initiative and wished the organisation success ahead of the event. Rakul Preet was personally trained by Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, the founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa, who led the yoga event.
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