As the 12th International Yoga Day was celebrated in full pomp and grandeur in Kolkata with Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicking off the festival in the city, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari thanked him for bringing the exercise into limelight back to West Bengal.
“I will only thank Bengals people and the Prime Minister who has brought this forgotten practice back to us on the 12th International Yoga Day, 2026,” Adhikari said.
Today, Kolkata witnessed a magnificent morning of harmony, wellness and unity as we hosted the Grand International Day of Yoga at our iconic Red Road 🧘♀️🧘♂️
We were deeply honoured to have this mega event graced by Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, who can be rightfully portrayed… pic.twitter.com/NNPLpxrnMV
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) June 21, 2026
In an indirect reference to the previous Trinamool Congress government which suffered a major blow in the recently-held assembly elections, Adhikari said that yoga was not promoted adequately under the former regime.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has popularised International Yoga Day throughout the world. In West Bengal, the state government was not inclined towards celebrating this day. We don’t know why. And I don’t want to get into this on this auspicious morning,” the Chief Minister said.
“But the people of West Bengal have taken a historic decision which is why Yoga is being practiced today everywhere in the state,” he pointed out.
Highlighting the enthusiasm in the people of West Bengal to practice yoga, Adhikari said, “Almost 2,57,000 have registered for this event, in which various individuals and establishments are participating today.”
Emphasising the large number of participants in the programme across the state on Sunday, the Chief Minister said, “I believe in every part of the state, starting from Darjeeling to Digha, Coochbehar to Kakdwip, more than 1 crore individuals are participating today. Kolkata will break all records of the past and lakhs of people will participate in this festival today.”
Pointing out the historical relevance of Yoga, Adhikari also mentioned the Indian philosopher Swami Vivekanada’s emphasis on this practice.
“You all know what Swami Vivekananda had said about yoga. In 1893, he had said that Yoga is the only way to be free, yoga is joy, yoga is love, and through yoga both the mind and our body will flourish. We have all read about Yoga in ancient books and scriptures like Vedas and the Upanishads,” he said.