Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the national observance of the 12th International Day of Yoga on January 31, participating in celebrations at Red Road in Kolkata. The event highlighted wellness and healthy living, bringing together participants across the city.
The 12th International Day of Yoga was observed nationally and globally under the theme ‘Yoga for Healthy Aging’, which emphasizes yoga’s role in promoting healthy andctive living throughout all stages of life.
This year’s theme reflects a global focus on enhancing health span, quality of life, and overall well-being as populations age and non-communicable diseases and lifestyle-related health concerns increase worldwide. The emphasis has shifted from merely adding years to life towards improving health in older age.
In Odisha’s Puri, renowned international sand artist Manas Kumar Sahoo created a special sand animation at his studio to mark the occasion. The artwork, completed in approximately 30 minutes, illustrated the theme ‘Yoga for Healthy Aging’ and highlighted yoga’s importance in maintaining physical fitness, mental well-being, and an active lifestyle throughout life.
The animation featured an image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi practicing yoga, symbolizing the global movement towards embracing yoga as a way of life and fostering health and wellness for all generations. Through this creative presentation, Manas Kumar Sahoo encouraged people to adopt yoga daily for a healthier, happier, and more balanced future.
Yoga shares an ancient bond with India, evolving from a spiritual and philosophical practice into a global movement for physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Recognizing its universal benefits, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014. This followed a proposal introduced by Prime Minister Modi at the 69th UN session, supported by 175 member states. The first observance took place on 21 June 2015.
This landmark recognition acknowledged India’s contribution to global wellness and advanced yoga’s transformation into a worldwide celebration across continents.
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