New Delhi, March 13: Union Minister of State for AYUSH and Health, Prataprao Jadhav, inaugurated the Yoga Festival 2026 on Friday in New Delhi. This event marks the beginning of the 100-day countdown to the 12th International Yoga Day in 2026.
During the inauguration, the minister launched ’10 Yoga Protocols for Non-Communicable Diseases and Targeted Groups’, designed for various age groups and health conditions.
The Ministry of AYUSH, which serves as the nodal ministry for International Yoga Day, has successfully conducted 11 editions of the event, with global participation steadily increasing. The Yoga Festival 2026 symbolizes the start of this 100-day journey aimed at promoting the diverse aspects of yoga and inspiring a global movement for health, well-being, and peace.
The minister stated, “Over the past 11 years, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, International Yoga Day has evolved into a global health celebration. Yoga is not just a lifestyle practice; it is a powerful system that promotes mental clarity, physical health, and emotional balance. Its benefits have kept millions strong and healthy, even during challenging times like the pandemic.”
The 10 Yoga Protocols aim to empower individuals to take responsibility for their health, enhance physical and mental resilience, and improve quality of life.
Additionally, the minister introduced the ‘Yoga for Air Travel’ protocol, which includes five-minute yoga exercises, pranayama, and brief meditation. This protocol is designed to reduce travel-related stress, improve blood circulation, relax muscles, and enhance mental peace.
As part of the 100-day countdown to International Yoga Day 2026, the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga signed an MoU with Habilid to provide daily free online yoga sessions under the Yoga 365 campaign.
The minister remarked, “Yoga 365 aims to help people develop a daily yoga habit, promoting regular practice and deeper engagement.”
AYUSH Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha shared insights about digital initiatives, revealing that AI-based tools have been developed through the AYUSH Grid to guide practitioners in improving their yoga postures.
He also noted the growing global popularity of yoga, highlighting that over 260 million people participated in International Yoga Day 2025, showcasing the strength of this movement. He mentioned that courses like the Advanced Y-Break Course are available on Karmayogi Bharat, with over one million participants enrolled so far.
The event commenced at 7 AM with a live demonstration of the Common Yoga Protocol, attended by over 1,000 yoga enthusiasts. The session included a series of asanas, pranayama, and meditation aimed at enhancing flexibility, strength, balance, and inner harmony.
During the Yoga Festival 2026, three technical sessions were held, focusing on yoga for the elderly, business modules for yoga entrepreneurship, and sessions on yoga and artificial intelligence.
These sessions featured experts in yoga, medicine, and scientific research, creating a platform for knowledge sharing. Approximately 1,500 participants, including yoga gurus, scholars, policymakers, officials, corporate professionals, and yoga specialists, attended the event.
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My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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