President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday (June 21, 2026) said that yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s cultural heritage to the world, playing a vital role in guiding humanity towards peace and harmony amid multiple global challenges.

Ms. Murmu led International Yoga Day celebrations, performing exercises along with Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and thousands of participants at a state-level event in Jabalpur.

The mass yoga session, organised at the Garrison Ground, conveyed a message of making yoga an integral part of life and adopting a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

Programmes to mark the 12th International Yoga Day also took place in other cities of Madhya Pradesh, drawing enthusiastic participation from public representatives and citizens.

Dressed in a white salwar-kurta, Ms. Murmu performed various yoga asanas on a blue mat. Mr. Yadav and Mr. Patel also participated in the session.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Murmu said, "Today, we are celebrating India's great tradition that has shown humanity the path to a healthy, balanced and meaningful life. Yoga is an invaluable gift of our cultural heritage to the global community. It is the result of thousands of years of penance by our sages and seers."

She said scriptures regarded the balance of body, mind and soul as the basis of success in life and yoga provided the means to establish that balance.

"The literal meaning of the word yoga is to unite. It is a powerful medium that connects individuals with themselves, society with nature and humanity with the larger universal consciousness," she said.

Ms. Murmu said yoga was playing an important role in guiding humanity towards peace, balance, harmony and social welfare at a time when the world faced multiple challenges.

Yoga has emerged as a powerful medium for global welfare over the past 12 years and crores of people across many countries have adopted it as part of their daily lives, she noted.

Referring to this year's International Yoga Day theme focusing on healthy ageing, Ms. Murmu said yoga helps people remain active and self-reliant as they advance in age while also providing mental peace and emotional balance.

She urged people to resolve to make yoga an integral part of their daily lives.

Governor Patel said yoga was not merely a means to keep the body healthy but a way to make life balanced, simple and joyful.

He said the path to healthy living shown by India's knowledge tradition is now being embraced across the world.

"Just 20 to 30 minutes of yoga, meditation and pranayama every day is the simplest way to bring effective and positive changes in our lives," he said.

CM Yadav said yoga not only strengthens physical and mental health but also promotes global welfare, peace and harmony.

"It is a matter of good fortune for us that we are celebrating the 12th International Yoga Day alongside the completion of 12 successful years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership," he said.

Mr. Yadav said India has always worked to unite the world through its knowledge, culture and wisdom.

"Prime Minister Modi has given yoga global recognition and introduced the international community to India's rich cultural heritage, ancient traditions and philosophy of life. He has also conveyed a global message of healthy, balanced and positive living for humanity," he said.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in a yoga programme in state capital Bhopal.

"Yoga connects the body with the mind, the mind with intellect, intellect with the soul and the soul with the Supreme Being. When we connect with the Supreme Being, we realise that we are all part of the same consciousness," Mr. Chouhan said.

A large number of people also participated in yoga sessions at TT Nagar Stadium in Bhopal, while thousands of participants in Indore performed 'Bhramari Pranayama' continuously for over three minutes.

Organisers said the feat reflected growing awareness about yoga and collective participation in wellness activities.

Mass yoga programmes were also organised in Gwalior and Ujjain, with ministers, senior officials, public representatives, school students and hundreds of people taking part.