**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) organized the 'Vayo Yog Sangam' event on June 21, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, to celebrate the 12th International Day of Yoga. The program brought together approximately 1,300 senior citizens to promote the theme "Yoga for Healthy Ageing" and highlight the importance of physical and mental wellness. The initiative reflects the Ministry's ongoing commitment to building an inclusive and age-responsive support ecosystem for the elderly.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Event Details and Theme**
* The event was held as part of the nationwide 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026 celebrations.
* The central theme was 'वयो योग संगम’ (Vayo Yog Sangam) – Yoga for Healthy Ageing.
* The program focused on promoting active, healthy, and dignified ageing through social participation.
* **Program Activities**
* Participants engaged in a collective, structured Yoga session conducted under expert guidance.
* The event included a spiritual discourse by Dr. Ramesh Bijlani, a medical scientist and writer, focusing on mindful living and holistic wellness.
* A devotional musical presentation was performed by Ms. Khyati Mehra and her team to foster an atmosphere of emotional well-being and positivity.
* **Ministry Objectives**
* The MoSJE aims to reinforce Yoga as a sustainable practice for enhancing the quality of life, physical health, and emotional well-being of senior citizens.
* Joint Secretary Ms. Monali P. Dhakate emphasized that healthy ageing must encompass emotional, social, and mental wellness.
* The Ministry reiterated its commitment to creating an enabling ecosystem that supports the health and inclusion of elderly citizens across India.
**Impact Analysis**
**Senior Citizens**
* **Impact**: Approximately 1,300 elderly participants from Delhi-NCR benefited from expert-led physical activity and spiritual engagement, fostering a sense of social inclusion and dignity.
* **Action Required**: Adopt Yoga as a sustainable daily practice to enhance physical health and emotional well-being in later years.
**Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE)**
* **Impact**: The event served as a platform to demonstrate the Ministry’s dedication to senior citizen welfare and its alignment with national health themes.
* **Action Required**: Continue to develop and promote nationwide initiatives that build an inclusive, age-responsive support system for the elderly.
**Department Officials (e.g., Joint Secretary)**
* **Impact**: Provided a leadership opportunity to highlight the Ministry’s strategic focus on holistic wellness beyond just physical health.
* **Action Required**: Oversee the implementation of programs that strengthen social participation and mental wellness among the elderly population.
Key Entities Referenced
Vayo Yog Sangam: A special yoga initiative themed 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' organized to promote physical health, emotional well-being, and social participation among senior citizens.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE): The primary government ministry responsible for organizing the event and implementing policies to support the health and dignity of elderly citizens.
International Day of Yoga (IDY): The overarching national and global program under which the specific 2026 celebrations for senior citizens were held.
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi: The central venue where the Yoga Day event was hosted for senior citizens representing different parts of Delhi-NCR.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Celebrates International Day of Yoga 2026 with
Senior Citizens at Bharat Mandapam
वयो योग संगम
' ’ (Vayo Yog Sangam) Highlights the Importance of
Yoga for Healthy, Active and Dignified Ageing
Posted On: 21 JUN 2026 7:32PM by PIB Delhi
As part of the nationwide celebrations of the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026, the Ministry of
Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) organised a special Yoga Day event at Bharat Mandapam, New
Delhi, bringing together approximately 1,300 senior citizens under the theme “वयो योग संगम – Yoga for
Healthy Ageing.”
Held in alignment with the national theme of International Day of Yoga 2026, the event reflected the
Ministry’s continued commitment to promoting active and healthy ageing, wellness, dignity and social
participation among senior citizens.
The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from senior citizens representing different parts of
Delhi-NCR and provided an opportunity to reinforce the importance of adopting Yoga as a sustainable
practice for enhancing physical health, emotional well-being and quality of life in later years.The event featured a collective Yoga session, during which participants practised Yoga in a structured and
inclusive manner under expert guidance. It also included a spiritual discourse by Dr. Ramesh Bijlani, an
Indian writer, inspirational speaker and medical scientist. This was followed by a devotional musical
presentation by Ms. Khyati Mehra and her team, creating an atmosphere of reflection, positivity and
emotional well-being. The spiritual and musical segments underscored the values of mindful living, inner
harmony and holistic wellness, complementing the broader message of active and healthy ageing.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Monali P. Dhakate, Joint Secretary, Department of Social Justice &
Empowerment, highlighted that healthy ageing extends beyond physical well-being to encompass
emotional, social and mental wellness. She noted that Yoga serves as an important tool for promoting
active and dignified ageing while strengthening social participation among senior citizens. She further
emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to creating an enabling ecosystem that supports the health,
inclusion and overall well-being of elderly citizens across the country.
Participants expressed appreciation for the initiative and reaffirmed their commitment to integrating
wellness-oriented practices into their daily lives.
The Ministry reiterated its efforts to build an inclusive and age-responsive support ecosystem and to
promote initiatives that strengthen the health, participation and well-being of senior citizens nationwide.
The event concluded with a collective reaffirmation of the message that healthy ageing is central to
building an empowered and inclusive India.
वयो योग संगम – एक कदम सय एव ंस्वस्थ वृावस्था क ओर.
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