Yoga Has Become a Global Movement for Wellness and Human Unity: PM Modi
Kolkata, June 21 (TNT): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday led the national observance of the 12th International Day of Yoga from Red Road in Kolkata, asserting that yoga has evolved into one of humanity’s largest collective movements for health, harmony and well-being.
Participating in the Common Yoga Protocol session alongside thousands of yoga practitioners, the Prime Minister extended greetings to people across the world and noted that June 21, the longest day of the year in many parts of the world, has also become a symbol of global unity through yoga.
Addressing the gathering, Modi said inspiring scenes of yoga celebrations were being witnessed across India and around the globe.
“From the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, and from Bengal and the Northeast to Saurashtra in the west, the entire nation is energised by the spirit of yoga. The country and the world are connected through a shared commitment to wellness and harmony,” he said.
The Prime Minister also lauded the people of Kolkata for their efforts under the “Swachhta Se Swagat” initiative, saying their commitment to cleanliness had become an inspiration for the rest of the country.
Highlighting West Bengal’s rich spiritual heritage, Modi said the state holds a special place in India’s yogic and philosophical traditions.
He recalled the contributions of Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo and Lahiri Mahasaya in spreading India’s spiritual wisdom and yoga traditions.
Referring to the teachings of Rabindranath Tagore and Sri Aurobindo, he said yoga strengthens the foundations of human unity and is much more than a form of physical exercise.
“Yoga is a source of consciousness, vitality and inner illumination that enriches every stage of life,” he said.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” the Prime Minister said yoga offers a pathway to remaining healthy, active and energetic throughout life.
He said healthy ageing means ensuring that advancing years do not diminish an individual’s potential.
Yoga, he noted, enhances flexibility, sustains energy, reduces stress, improves mental well-being and helps prevent lifestyle-related diseases.
“Yoga transforms individuals into lifelong learners of their own bodies and minds. Greater self-awareness leads to better self-management and a healthier way of life,” he observed.
Quoting the Bhagavad Gita, Modi said balanced food habits, recreation, work and sleep form the basis of a healthy and fulfilling life, adding that balance is the essence of yoga.
The Prime Minister stressed that yoga is not limited to physical well-being but also contributes to mental wellness, self-awareness and inner peace.
“Yoga is no longer merely a personal lifestyle practice; it has become a necessity for building a better future for the world,” he said.
Calling upon people to make yoga an integral part of their daily lives, Modi urged citizens not to confine yoga to a single day or event but to pass on the practice to future generations.
He also highlighted the success of the “Yoga 365” initiative, under which a 100-day online yoga programme attracted more than three million participants from 130 countries, reflecting yoga’s growing global acceptance.
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister said a healthy society forms the foundation of a strong, prosperous and confident nation and invoked the ancient prayer: “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayah” (May all be happy, may all be free from illness).
TNT KM
