KHAJURAHO: The main national celebration of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026 will be hosted in Kolkata on June 21, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav announced on Wednesday. Unveiling this year’s official theme—”Yoga for Healthy Ageing”—the minister highlighted yoga’s critical role in fostering physical durability, mental well-being, and holistic health in advancing age.
The milestone announcement was made during the Yoga Mahotsav 2026 held at the iconic Western Group of Temples in Khajuraho, marking the official start of the 25-day countdown to IDY 2026. Organised by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) under the Ministry of Ayush, the event drew thousands of yoga enthusiasts for a mass demonstration of the Common Yoga Protocol.
Digital Initiatives and Global Reach During the countdown event, Minister Jadhav launched and relaunched key digital portals to maximize public engagement:
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Yoga Sangam Portal: Relaunched to facilitate seamless online registrations and boost global public participation for IDY 2026.
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Yoga Park Portal: Newly launched with the focus of developing dedicated, structured yoga spaces across various states and educational institutions.
Jadhav also unveiled a redesigned promotional Yoga T-shirt and noted that more than two lakh citizens have already received “Yog Mitra” certification under the 100-day free training initiative of the Yoga 365 Campaign. He reiterated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ministry is aggressively expanding yoga’s footprint into rural areas, schools, and local workplaces.
A Growing Global Movement Joining the program virtually, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav lauded Khajuraho and yoga as twin pillars of India’s ancient cultural heritage, noting a visible surge in youth adoption. Local Member of Parliament Vishnu Datt Sharma added that yoga has successfully evolved into a massive global movement, now actively practiced in nearly 190 countries worldwide.
The event concluded with an appeal by Monalisa Dash, urging citizens to register as “Yoga Mitras” and participate in an upcoming official Guinness World Record attempt scheduled for June 14, 2026.
