Kurukshetra: The 11th International Yoga Day was celebrated in a grand manner in Kurukshetra under the guidance of Baba Ramdev. The event was jointly organized by Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haryana Yoga Commission, and the AYUSH Department of Haryana. Chief Minister of Haryana Nayab Singh Saini, Swami Ramdev, and Acharya Balkrishna led a massive yoga session at the historic Brahma Sarovar, where over one lakh yoga practitioners performed yoga together, setting a new milestone.
Baba Ramdev announced that free yoga training sessions were held in all 650 districts across India by Patanjali Yoga Samiti as per the Common Yoga Protocol. This year’s Yoga Day theme was “One Earth, One Health.”
In his address, Baba Ramdev said that yoga has become a global movement with over 2 billion people practicing it around the world. “Yoga is now the duty of the era. It is the essence of Sanatan Dharma, rooted in our traditions and nature,” he said. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a ‘yogi warrior’, for promoting yoga globally and encouraging village leaders to promote yoga in their communities.
He emphasized that top Indian leaders — the Prime Minister, President, Home Minister, and Defence Minister — all practice yoga, making it a lifestyle for national leadership. Baba Ramdev highlighted that yoga can significantly reduce the country’s healthcare expenses, which currently stand at Rs 10 lakh crore annually. “If everyone in the country practices yoga, this health budget can be reduced to zero,” he said.
Baba Ramdev also linked yoga to India’s economic independence. He urged citizens to adopt Swadeshi (indigenous) products in daily life, stating that foreign companies looted over $100 trillion from India between 1765 and 1900. Patanjali, he said, contributes 100% of its profit to serving the nation under its ‘Prosperity for Charity’ mission.
To transform education, Patanjali has launched institutions like Patanjali Gurukulam and Acharyakulam, aligning with the Bharatiya Shiksha Board (BSB) to free the country from the outdated colonial education system and build leaders of strong character.
Acharya Balkrishna added that just 30 to 60 minutes of daily yoga can improve immunity, reverse diseases, and lead to a healthy and happy life. Patanjali Research Foundation has published hundreds of research papers on yoga in top global journals.
Over 11 lakh people participated in Yoga Day events across Haryana — at district and tehsil levels — while more than one lakh people practiced yoga together at Brahma Sarovar. Attendees included Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, Minister Aarti Rao, MP Naveen Jindal, AYUSH DG Sanjeev Verma, and representatives from Patanjali and the Haryana Yoga Commission.
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini reiterated the government’s commitment to spreading yoga across the state and making Haryana free from addiction and stress.
