Envoys and Indian diplomatic corps celebrate International Day of Yoga; EAM Jaishankar leads the event | Watch

Ambassadors representing different nations, along with various other members of the diplomatic corps, conducted a Yoga session along with External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar to mark the 2026 edition of the International Day of Yoga. This year, the world is marking the 12th anniversary of the international event, which was recognised by the United Nations in 2015.

This year, India is celebrating the International Day of Yoga with the theme "Yoga for healthy ageing". As in every year, the diplomatic corps held a yoga session at Nehru Park in New Delhi. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared a video of the one-hour-30-minute-long session held on Sunday.

With this year's theme, India wants to showcase its commitments to "healthier life, unity and humanity". This year's leading yoga instructor for the diplomatic corps was Ms Madhu, who started the session with breathing exercises.

More from India

World celebrates 12th International Day of Yoga

This year's International Day of Yoga is being observed under the theme ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’, highlighting its role in promoting physical health, mental well-being, emotional resilience and active ageing. Yoga Day celebrations are being organised at nearly 2,500 locations worldwide, with participation from more than 210 Indian missions and posts.

It is pertinent to note that the International Day of Yoga was first observed in 2015, following the adoption of India’s proposal by the United Nations General Assembly. Over the years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led celebrations from various locations in India and abroad.

This year, he led the nation to observe Yoga Day at an international event from Kolkata’s Red Road. To kickstart the celebrations, PM Modi addressed a massive gathering and highlighted that global participation in Yoga Day events has doubled. He said that the occasion has grown into a massive collective movement that transcends national boundaries.

“Yoga Day has become the world’s biggest festival; visuals are coming from different parts of the world," the Prime Minister said. He emphasised that June 21 holds a special significance as it is the longest day of the year in several parts of the world. He said that the date has acquired an additional global identity because of the International Day of Yoga.

“June 21, in some parts of the Earth, is the day with the longest duration of daylight in the year. And because of International Yoga Day, this day, June 21, has also become the day of the world’s largest collective celebration," the Indian prime minister averred.