Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, on Saturday participated in a mass yoga event at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in the national capital to mark the 11th International Day of Yoga. The event, part of the Ministry of Ayush’s ‘Yoga Sangam’ initiative, witnessed the enthusiastic participation of over 1,500 yoga practitioners, including more than 400 volunteers from the My Bharat programme.
Held inside the Cycling Velodrome of the stadium, the event was also supported by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which organised similar yoga activities across its regional centres, national centres of excellence, and Khelo India training hubs. The day’s theme, ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’, set the tone for the event which aimed to reinforce the message of holistic well-being through yoga.
Dr. Mandaviya, joined by sportspersons and celebrities alike, performed several yoga asanas including Surya Namaskar. Among those who joined him were former Indian hockey captain and Padma Shri awardee Rani Rampal, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Priyanka Goswami, and actors Jackky Bhagnani, Rakul Preet Singh, and Madhurima Tuli.
In a gesture aimed at further popularising the Fit India Movement, Dr. Mandaviya conferred the title of ‘Fit India Icons’ on actor-producer duo Jackky Bhagnani and Rakul Preet Singh, handing them certificates in recognition of their advocacy for fitness and healthy living.
The minister, while addressing the gathering, extended his wishes on the occasion of International Yoga Day and called upon citizens to incorporate yoga into their daily lives. “Yoga is our cultural heritage. It is a mantra for fitness and a healthy life. Through initiatives like the Fit India Cult Yogathon, we aim to promote yoga as a way of life for all,” he said.
In Jalgaon, Maharashtra, Minister of State for Defence Nikhil Khadse led a parallel event under Yoga Sangam in the presence of State Ministers Girish Mahajan and Sanjay Savkare. The event there witnessed participation from over 3,000 yoga practitioners, reflecting the national scale of the celebration.
Rani Rampal lauded the efforts of the Ministry of Ayush and the Sports Ministry for taking yoga to the masses. Reflecting on her own discipline as an athlete, she said yoga was essential not just for sportspersons but for every citizen. “A fit and healthy nation is the foundation of a Viksit Bharat, as our Prime Minister has said. When our Sports Minister himself makes time for fitness weekly, we too must follow his example,” she added.
Olympian Priyanka Goswami spoke of yoga’s impact on mental strength, particularly in endurance sports like race walking. “During long races, it becomes very difficult to control the mind. Daily meditation helps me stay focused. I appeal to the youth to choose physical activity and proper nutrition over harmful distractions,” she said.