3 min readKolkataJun 19, 2026 05:39 AM IST
First published on: Jun 19, 2026 at 05:39 AM IST
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has appealed to people to participate in large numbers in the International Yoga Day 2026, with 35,000 registrations already received for Kolkata’s Red Road event on June 21, scheduled to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing a press conference at Nabanna, Adhikari said the celebrations will begin on June 19 with a “Run for Yoga” programme across the state. In Kolkata, the main run will start from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation headquarters and conclude at Writers’ Buildings. Similar events will be held at 11 other locations in the city and across districts.
Union Minister of State for AYUSH Prataprao Jadhav has said that this year’s celebration will be set “on an unprecedented scale”, with Kolkata hosting the national event in the presence of the Prime Minister.
On June 20, observed by the state government as West Bengal Day, a yoga-themed cultural programme titled Vande Yogam will be organised on the Hooghly river. Officials said the event will feature cultural performances and technology-driven installations along the riverfront.
The main International Yoga Day programme will be held at Red Road on June 21, where Modi and Adhikari will participate in a mass yoga session. Public entry will begin at 6.15 am and the programme is scheduled to start at 6.45 am.
Adhikari said around 35,000 people had already registered for the Red Road event and expressed confidence that participation would run into lakhs. He also appealed to residents to take part in a cleanliness drive being conducted from June 15 to June 20 under the Swachh Bharat initiative.
Speaking at a preparatory programme later in the day, Union Minister of State for AYUSH Prataprao Jadhav said this year’s International Yoga Day celebrations would be held on an “unprecedented scale”, with Kolkata hosting the national event in the presence of the Prime Minister.
Jadhav said the theme for this year, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”, highlights yoga’s role in promoting physical and mental well-being. He noted that the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is organising International Yoga Day events at around 1,300 locations worldwide, reflecting yoga’s growing global acceptance.Jadhav said the AYUSH Ministry has launched the “Yoga 365” initiative to encourage people to make yoga a part of their daily lives throughout the year rather than limiting it to a single day of observance.
He said special programmes, including a mass yoga demonstration on 59 boats on the Hooghly river, showcasing Bengal’s cultural identity.He added that Kolkata will be illuminated with yoga-themed lighting installations, bridge illumination and a drone show involving around 3,000 drones, transforming the city into what he described as a “yoga capital”.
CM addressed the city residents and said, “We want to welcome the Honorable Prime Minister to this historic city of Kolkata with a completely clean atmosphere.”
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari with Union MoS Prataprao Jadhav in Kolkata. (Express) 
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