The Ministry of Culture will celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21 by hosting yoga sessions at 100 iconic tourist destinations and 50 cultural sites across the country. The initiative is part of a broader effort to blend India’s rich cultural heritage with its ancient wellness traditions.
These events will run in parallel with the main national celebration, which will take place in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the observance. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan are also expected to be present at the Visakhapatnam event, organised by the Ministry of Ayush.
Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will join the celebrations at Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, one of the many historic venues selected for the nationwide programme.
Celebrations at heritage sites
Yoga sessions will be held at several UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Charaideo Maidam (Assam), Rani Ki Vav and Dholavira (Gujarat), Hampi and Pattadakal (Karnataka), Khajuraho and Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh), the Sun Temple in Konark (Odisha), Elephanta Caves (Maharashtra), and the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu).
Apart from these, prominent cultural and historical landmarks such as Golconda Fort and Salarjung Museum (Hyderabad), Humayun’s Tomb, Purana Qila and Safdarjung Tomb (Delhi), Jallianwala Bagh (Amritsar), Chittorgarh and Kumbhalgarh Forts (Rajasthan), Leh Palace (Ladakh), Pari Mahal (Srinagar), Bekal Fort (Kerala), and Hazarduari and Cooch Behar Palaces (West Bengal) will also host yoga demonstrations.
Institutional support
Various offices and institutions under the Ministry of Culture — including its attached, subordinate, and autonomous bodies — are actively involved in executing the initiative across states. The Ministry described the effort as a means to “reinforce the commitment to linking India’s cultural legacy with the wellness traditions of yoga.”
Since its inception in 2015, International Day of Yoga has been celebrated with increasing participation across India and globally, aimed at promoting the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of yoga.