From Shillong to seas: Armed forces celebrate International Day of Yoga across India
From the icy heights of the Siachen Glacier to the vast Rann of Kutch and from the hills in the northeast to the naval platforms at sea, the armed forces celebrated International Yoga Day across the country, reaffirming their commitment to physical fitness and mental toughness.
International Yoga Day 2026 Updates: Leaders and yoga enthusiasts join celebrations across the country
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh led the celebrations in Shillong while participating in a yoga session hosted by the Eastern Air Command along with Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and other air warriors.
“I celebrate International Yoga Day at Eastern Air Command in Shillong. I urge everyone to make Yoga an integral part of their lives,” he said in a post on X, and also shared a video of the session.
Chief of Defense Staff General NS Raja Subramani led the Yoga Day celebrations organized by Headquarters Integrated Defense Staff at the National War Memorial in Delhi.
Meanwhile, Indian Army Chief of Staff Upendra Dwivedi led the celebrations along with soldiers in Tezpur, Assam. “His participation with soldiers in the Eastern theater symbolized the Army’s continued emphasis on fitness, endurance and operational readiness across all terrains and conditions,” a senior official said. he said.
The 12th International Yoga Day is being celebrated this year with the theme of ‘Yoga for Healthy Aging’, which emphasizes the importance of yoga for all ages.
In a post published on
The celebrations reflected the Army’s ethos of discipline, resilience and wellness, while reinforcing the role of yoga in promoting a healthy lifestyle and improving operational efficiency.
In the national capital, the Army hosted the event at the Cariappa Parade in Delhi Cantonment. Army jawans and others, positioned in a massive grid formation, stretched their arms and legs to perform various stunts. asanas.
Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, attended the yoga session at Cariappa Parade Ground with over 3,500 enthusiastic participants, including a large number of personnel and family members, veterans, women, children, National Cadet Corps cadets and a large number of civilians, officials said.
The army official said the event was attended by defense attachés from more than 17 countries, reflecting the global importance of yoga and its growing acceptance as a path to health, harmony and well-being.
Yoga sessions were also held in desert lands, coastal areas, islands and field formations that reflect the unifying spirit of yoga. Yoga events were organized in various Army commands including North, West, East, South, Central and South West.
Naval platforms and Indian Coast Guard ships at sea and in port also participated in the celebrations. The day holds special significance for the Indian Navy due to the presence of three indigenous frontline ships, including the stealth frigate dunagiriHe was commissioned in Kolkata on Sunday.
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel on board Varad, Samudra Pratap, Sarthak, Arush, C-445, C-161 And C-156 A senior official of ICG said that he attended yoga sessions.
“In a remarkable show of unity and commitment towards healthy living, coordinated yoga sessions were conducted on various ICG ships and establishments covering the country’s extensive coastline and island regions,” the official said.
The central event was held at the Coast Guard Complex in Noida in association with Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga. The program was graced by ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani, who addressed over 1,000 ICG staff and their family members, the official said.
All military commands of the three Services (Army, Navy and Air Force) are preparing for this annual event aimed at promoting physical fitness, mental toughness and holistic well-being. Many Army commands also organized yoga sessions ahead of International Yoga Day.
The Lucknow-based Central Command had earlier said in
The Indian Air Force also organized a series of events spanning several of its commands, from Western Air Command in Delhi to Southern Air Command in Thiruvananthapuram.
Ahead of the celebrations, officials said the IAF will commemorate Yoga Day “by organizing yoga sessions across various terrains and regions, from the high altitude mountains of Leh in the north to the beaches of Car Nicobar in the south, and from the eastern borders of Tawang to the holy city of Dwarka in the west.”
Rooted in the timeless wisdom of India, yoga fosters strength, balance and inner harmony, allowing individuals to live healthier, more active and fulfilling lives at all ages, military officials said. They said yoga helps build a healthier, stronger and more resilient future.
It was published – 21 June 2026 22:20 IST
