**Executive Summary**
The 12th International Day of Yoga was celebrated on June 21, 2026, under the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” organized by the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA). Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal led the event at the Gateway of India, highlighting Yoga as a global movement for wellness and a reflection of India’s growing soft power. Over 10,000 participants, including maritime professionals and citizens, engaged in yoga sessions across various locations to promote healthy lifestyles and discipline.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Global Significance and Leadership**
* Yoga has transformed from an ancient tradition into a global people’s movement for health, harmony, and holistic well-being under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
* The worldwide acceptance of Yoga serves as a symbol of India’s civilisational wisdom and strengthens its cultural influence and leadership in global wellness.
* The United Nations’ recognition of Yoga has positioned India as a leading voice in promoting preventive healthcare and mental resilience.
**Event Scale and Participation**
* More than 10,000 people participated in MbPA-organized celebrations, with approximately 5,000 attendees at the flagship event at the Gateway of India.
* Participants included seafarers, maritime professionals, port employees, NCC cadets, CISF personnel, school students, and various dignitaries.
* Yoga sessions were conducted at diverse locations, including Jawahar Dweep, Pir Pau, fire stations, residential colonies, hospitals, and aboard nearly 20 vessels and tugs in Mumbai Harbour.
**Program Highlights**
* The event featured a live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address and Yoga session from Kolkata’s Red Road.
* Trained instructors conducted the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) for all participants.
* The 2026 theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” focused on promoting active ageing and improved quality of life across generations.
**Impact Analysis**
**Maritime Community (Seafarers, Port Employees, and Professionals)**
**Impact**
The community was integrated into a massive wellness initiative, with sessions held directly on vessels, ships, and within dock areas to promote physical fitness and discipline.
**Action Required**
Members are encouraged to adopt Yoga as a "way of life" to nurture mental resilience and inner balance within their demanding professional environments.
**Government and Public Institutions (Mumbai Port Authority and Ministry)**
**Impact**
The MbPA successfully coordinated a multi-location event that demonstrated administrative capacity and reaffirmed the government's commitment to global wellness leadership.
**Action Required**
Continued facilitation of large-scale public health programs and adherence to the Common Yoga Protocol during national celebrations.
**Youth and Students (NCC Cadets and School Students)**
**Impact**
Younger generations were exposed to the values of discipline and India’s cultural heritage through participation in the global movement.
**Action Required**
Students are expected to participate in the collective reaffirmation of health and well-being values as part of their educational and physical development.
**General Public and Elderly Citizens**
**Impact**
The theme "Yoga for Healthy Ageing" specifically targets these stakeholders to improve their quality of life and promote sustainable living.
**Action Required**
Citizens are encouraged to engage with Yoga to achieve preventive healthcare benefits and holistic well-being.
Key Entities Referenced
International Day of Yoga: A global movement and annual initiative led by India to promote holistic well-being, wellness, and sustainable living.
Common Yoga Protocol (CYP): A standardized set of yoga practices and guidelines conducted by trained instructors to ensure uniform practice during celebrations.
Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA): The primary implementing agency responsible for organizing large-scale Yoga Day events across Mumbai’s city and harbour.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW): The central ministry overseeing the participation of the maritime community and port employees in the national wellness movement.
Yoga for Healthy Ageing: The specific thematic focus for the 12th International Day of Yoga, emphasizing yoga's role in active ageing and improved quality of life.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
PM Narendra Modi’s Led Yoga to Become India’s
Most Powerful Global Wellness Movement:
Sarbananda Sonowal
From an ancient Bharatiya tradition to a global movement,
Yoga today reflects Bharat’s growing soft power under PM
Narendra Modi’s leadership: Sarbananda Sonowal
Thousands joined Yoga Day celebrations at Gateway of India
in Mumbai, reaffirming Yoga’s role in building a healthier &
more disciplined society: Sarbananda Sonowal
Over 10,000 Join Mumbai Port Authority’s (MbPA) Yoga Day
Celebrations Across City and Harbour
प्रव तथ: 21 JUN 2026 5:52PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal said that Yoga
has emerged as one of India’s most influential contributions to the world under the leadership of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, transforming an ancient civilisational heritage into a global movement for health,
harmony and holistic well-being.
Addressing the 12th International Day of Yoga celebrations organised by Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA)
at the iconic Gateway of India, Mumbai. Sonowal said the worldwide acceptance of Yoga reflects the
growing soft power of Bharat and demonstrates how India's timeless wisdom is increasingly shaping
global conversations on wellness and sustainable living.
“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the International Day of Yoga has
evolved into a global people's movement towards wellness and health. What was once practised in our
homes, ashrams and communities is today embraced across continents. Yoga has become a symbol of
India’s civilisational wisdom, strengthening Bharat’s cultural influence and global leadership in wellness,”
Sarbananda Sonowal said.
The celebrations witnessed participation from more than 10,000 people across Mumbai Port Authority
(MbPA) locations, including around 5,000 participants at the flagship event held at the Gateway of India.
The gathering included seafarers, NCC cadets, CISF personnel, school students, maritime professionals,
port employees and citizens from different walks of life.
Participants joined the live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address and Yoga session from
Kolkata’s historic Red Road. The Prime Minister’s address and yoga session formed the centrepiece of the
programme, following which trained instructors conducted the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) at theGateway of India and across other Mumbai Port Authority locations.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said Prime Minister Modi’s efforts have not only secured global
recognition for Yoga through the United Nations but have also positioned India as a leading voice in
promoting preventive healthcare, mental well-being and holistic living.
“Yoga is not merely a form of exercise; it is a way of life that nurtures physical fitness, mental resilience
and inner balance. The global recognition Yoga enjoys today stands as a tribute to Prime Minister Modi’s
commitment to sharing India’s ancient knowledge systems with the world for the welfare of humanity,”
Sarbananda Sonowal said.
The programme was attended by Union Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan;
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar; Members of Parliament (MPs)
Nishikant Dubey and Ravi Kishan; MCGM Corporator Harshita Narwekar; Maharashtra
Legislative Council Member Vivek Kolhe; Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) Chairperson Dr. M.
Angamuthu; Deputy Chairperson, Adesh Titarmare; Director General of Shipping (DGS), Shyam
Jagannathan; actors Esha Deol and Neetu Chandra, among other dignitaries.
Apart from the Gateway of India event, around 5,000 participants joined Yoga sessions organised at
Jawahar Dweep, Pir Pau, the Fire Station at Tejpal Nagar, residential colonies in Mazgaon and Colaba,
hospitals within the dock areas, and aboard nearly 20 vessels, ships and tugs anchored in Mumbai
Harbour.
Observed this year under the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” the celebrations highlighted Yoga’s role in
promoting healthy lifestyles, active ageing and improved quality of life across generations.
The event concluded with a collective reaffirmation of the values of health, discipline and well-being,
bringing together members of the maritime community, government institutions, educational
establishments and citizens in a shared celebration of India’s enduring gift to the world.***
MI/Indu
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