Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 12th [1] International Yoga Day celebrations with a mass yoga session on Red Road in Kolkata on Sunday.
The event highlights India's effort to position yoga as a global tool for public health and diplomacy. By emphasizing healthy ageing and mental well-being, the initiative seeks to bridge cultural divides through a shared physical practice.
Thousands of participants [2] gathered on the Red Road to join the Prime Minister in the session. The event focused on the ability of yoga to unite people across different backgrounds and age groups. Modi said that yoga has become the world's largest community celebration, bringing people together across countries and cultures.
During the celebrations, the Prime Minister spoke about the broader implications of the practice beyond individual fitness. He said that yoga can pave way for world peace, and it must be embraced across all ages. He said the practice is a unifying force, stating, "It connects us all."
The 12th [1] anniversary of the international observance underscores the growth of the movement since its inception. The session in Kolkata served as a centerpiece for the day's activities, emphasizing the integration of yoga into daily life for a healthier society. The government's push for the practice continues to target diverse demographics to ensure the benefits of the discipline are accessible to all citizens.
“Yoga can pave way for world peace, it must be embraced across all ages.”
The scale of the 12th International Yoga Day event demonstrates the Indian government's successful use of 'soft power' to export cultural traditions as global health standards. By linking a physical practice to the concept of world peace, India strengthens its diplomatic ties and cultural influence on a global scale.
