Haryana’s 11th International Yoga Day to Make History, Over 1.1 Million Practitioners to Perform Yoga Together

Target Set to Create World Record with Participation of Over One Lakh People at State-Level Yoga Event in Kurukshetra’s Brahma Sarovar

Chandigarh, June 13 — Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced that preparations are in full swing to make the 11th International Yoga Day, celebrated on June 21, a historic event. Simultaneous yoga sessions will be held across all 22 districts and 121 blocks of the state, with more than 1.1 million people expected to participate. The main state-level event will take place at the sacred Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra, from where Lord Krishna is believed to have delivered the message of karma to the world. Yoga guru Swami Ramdev will lead the session and guide participants. The government aims to ensure the participation of over 100,000 people at this venue, with the dual objective of promoting yoga and setting a new world record.

The Chief Minister addressed a Yoga Protocol Training Camp today at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Basic Training Centre, Bhanu, in Panchkula. The camp was organized jointly by the Haryana Ayush Department, the Haryana Yoga Commission, and ITBP. During the program, CM Saini, dignitaries, and ITBP personnel observed two minutes of silence in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the Ahmedabad plane crash and prayed for the departed souls.

Saluting the dedication of ITBP personnel, CM Saini described the training center as a living symbol of discipline, service, sacrifice, and patriotism. He praised the soldiers for their tireless defense of the northeastern borders and their contributions in disaster relief, internal security, and international sports.

He also commended the Haryana Yoga Commission for promoting yoga among security forces and training yoga athletes. He noted the special importance of this training camp, held just a week before Yoga Day 2025 and dedicated to the soldiers guarding the nation’s borders. “Yoga not only promotes health but also cultivates teamwork, discipline, and mutual cooperation, making it deeply connected to the lives of soldiers,” said the CM.

So far, approximately 1.56 million people have participated in yoga programs organized across the state since May 27. More than 61,000 medicinal plants have been planted during these events. A yoga awareness campaign is also underway and will reach 5,000 villages by June 19. Organizations such as Patanjali Yogpeeth, Bharatiya Yoga Sansthan, Brahma Kumaris, and Art of Living are conducting yoga camps at 2,500 locations across Haryana. Under the “Green Yoga Campaign,” 1 million medicinal plants are being distributed by June 21. A dedicated portal has been launched where over 765,500 people have already registered for International Yoga Day.

The Chief Minister emphasized that yoga is a gift from the ancient sages of India. He said, “Due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative, the United Nations declared June 21 as International Yoga Day. Today, yoga is not just confined to India but has become a way of life across the world.”

To further promote yoga, the Haryana government has established 714 gymnasiums and appointed 877 Ayush yoga assistants. Yoga events will also be held in these centers on June 21.

CM Saini urged all citizens to adopt yoga as a daily practice and spread its benefits. He also administered a pledge to the audience for a “Yoga-oriented, drug-free Haryana.” As part of the “One Tree in Mother’s Name” campaign, the CM planted a sapling on the ITBP premises in Bhanu.

Yoga Is Not Just Exercise, But a Symbol of Balance and Holistic Health – Ayush Minister Arti Singh Rao

Ayush and Health Minister Arti Singh Rao highlighted the 11th Yoga Day’s theme—”Yoga for One Earth, One Health”—stating that humanity’s health is deeply linked to the health of the environment and all living beings. “Yoga is a global message of balance, growth, and health,” she said. Under the visionary leadership of the Chief Minister, the practice of yoga has evolved into a mass movement in Haryana, with over 1 million people participating in yoga activities. District-level yoga marathons, awareness drives, and group sessions are being held. Research is underway at all state medical colleges.

As part of the Green Yoga Campaign, 1 million medicinal plants are being planted across yoga venues, linking yoga to environmental responsibility. From police lines to schools and from the legislative assembly to border security forces, every corner of Haryana is resonating with the spirit of yoga.

Yoga Is Not Just Exercise, but a Way of Life – Dr. Jaideep Arya

Chairman of the Haryana Yoga Commission, Dr. Jaideep Arya, stated that yoga is not merely physical exercise but a lifestyle that teaches balance in all situations. Quoting the Bhagavad Gita, he said, “Yogasthaḥ kuru karmāṇi”—perform all duties while being established in yoga. He added that in harsh climates like Siachen, where temperatures drop to minus 40 degrees Celsius, yoga provides mental and physical strength to soldiers. Many border security personnel have made yoga an integral part of their routines, setting a strong example.

Dr. Arya emphasized the importance of organizing the state-level Yoga Day in Kurukshetra, the sacred land of the Gita, calling it symbolically and spiritually significant.

The event was also attended by Brigadier J.S. Goraya, Commandant Sunil, Additional Chief Secretary for Health and Ayush Sudhir Rajpal, ITBP personnel, and other senior officials.