Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 21: Union ministers across the country joined celebrations for the 12th International Yoga Day on Sunday, encouraging citizens to adopt yoga as a daily practice and highlighting its role in promoting physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said yoga goes beyond physical exercise and serves as the foundation for a healthy body, a calm mind and a balanced lifestyle.
In a message shared on social media platform X, he urged people to make yoga a year-round habit instead of limiting it to a single day of observance. He said practising yoga every day would contribute to building a healthier, more energetic and positive India.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took part in Yoga Day celebrations at the Brahmaputra Riverfront in Guwahati, Assam, in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Referring to this year's theme, "Yoga for Healthy Ageing", she said the focus was on promoting good health across all age groups. She explained that the theme highlights the importance of improving not only lifespan but also "healthspan", the number of years people live in good health.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described yoga as a unifying force that connects people across the world, underscoring its growing global significance.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said yoga represents one of India's most valuable cultural traditions, bringing together the body, mind and soul in harmony.
Extending his greetings on the occasion, Scindia said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, yoga has evolved into a worldwide movement over the past 12 years and has given fresh global recognition to India's cultural heritage.
He also called upon citizens to embrace the vision of "Yoga for Healthy Longevity" and contribute towards building a healthy, capable and developed India by 2047.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the national celebrations of the 12th International Day of Yoga at Kolkata's historic Red Road in West Bengal.
Participating under the theme "Yoga for Healthy Ageing", the Prime Minister performed the Common Yoga Protocol alongside thousands of participants, while millions of people across India and around the world joined the celebrations.
Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said the spirit of yoga had united the entire country, stretching from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean and from Bengal to Saurashtra, reflecting the widespread acceptance and enthusiasm surrounding the ancient Indian practice.