Union Home Minister Amit Shah performed yoga in Ahmedabad on Sunday to mark the 12th International Yoga Day [1].
The event underscores India's effort to globalize traditional wellness practices and promote public health initiatives centered on the theme “Yoga for healthy ageing” [2].
Shah joined the celebrations at Prahlad Nagar Garden in western Ahmedabad, where he was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel [1, 2]. The gathering was part of a broader state-wide effort to engage the public in mindfulness and physical fitness. Thousands of citizens were expected to participate in the Ahmedabad event alone [3].
Across the state of Gujarat, officials expected over 12.5 million people to participate in various yoga events [4]. These local celebrations mirror a massive global outreach coordinated by the Indian government. More than 210 Indian missions abroad organized celebrations at nearly 2,500 locations worldwide to mark the occasion [5].
The 12th anniversary of the international observance emphasizes the integration of yoga into daily routines to improve quality of life for older populations [1, 2]. By centering the day on healthy ageing, the initiative targets the physical and mental challenges associated with growing older, a priority for the Indian government's public health strategy.
While some reports suggested the main event was slated for Mansa, Gujarat, the Home Minister's primary appearance took place in Ahmedabad [1, 3].
“Yoga is India's invaluable gift to humankind”
The scale of the 12th International Yoga Day, involving thousands of locations globally and millions of participants within Gujarat, demonstrates India's use of soft power to export its cultural heritage. By shifting the focus to 'healthy ageing,' the government is aligning traditional practices with modern geriatric health concerns, aiming to reduce the long-term burden on healthcare systems through preventative wellness.
