The International Festival of Yoga and Meditation 2026, being held across Ladakh ahead of the International Day of Yoga, has brought together experts, practitioners and wellness enthusiasts to promote holistic health and well-being through Yoga, meditation and traditional systems of medicine.
As part of the week-long festival, the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR), Leh, in collaboration with the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, organised a seminar on “Integration of Yoga for Public Health”. The event focused on the role of Yoga and traditional healing systems in strengthening preventive healthcare and improving public health outcomes.
Addressing the gathering, NISR Director Dr. Padma Gurmet highlighted the importance of integrating Yoga with Sowa Rigpa, the traditional Tibetan system of medicine, to support preventive healthcare initiatives and promote overall well-being.
Chief Guest Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi, former Director of the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, spoke on the contribution of Yoga to holistic health. Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena underlined the role of meditation, compassion and inner well-being in fostering sustainable health and social harmony.
The seminar featured presentations on topics including emotional resilience through Yoga, emotional fitness and the integration of Yoga with Sowa Rigpa, highlighting the physical, emotional and mental health benefits of Yoga.
The festival is being organised across Ladakh from June 15 to 21 to mark the 12th UN International Day of Yoga. Activities include Yogathons, meditation sessions, youth outreach programmes and Yoga events at iconic locations across the region.
Among the major attractions are special Yoga sessions at Siachen Base Camp and Pangong Lake, showcasing Ladakh’s unique landscape while promoting the universal message of Yoga and wellness.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs organised a Yoga workshop at Parliament House Annexe in New Delhi ahead of International Yoga Day 2026.
The workshop was conducted by Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Professor in the Department of Yoga Science at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University. He led participants through Yoga and pranayama exercises and highlighted how regular practice can help reduce stress and improve workplace productivity.
Additional Secretary Dr. Satya Prakash inaugurated the workshop and briefed participants on activities planned by the government to mark International Yoga Day. Officers and staff of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs participated in the session.
The events form part of nationwide efforts to promote Yoga as a tool for physical, mental and emotional well-being ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21.
