Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Baba Ramdev leads grand Yoga Day in Haryana as CM Saini rolls out major reforms
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, June 21, 2025: The 11th International Yoga Day was marked by a grand and spirited celebration across Haryana, with Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev leading a massive yoga session at the sacred Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra, where over 1 lakh participants gathered in a powerful demonstration of unity through yoga.
In total, nearly 20 lakh people joined yoga sessions across 22 districts and 121 blocks of the state, transforming the event into a true people's movement.
The state-level function, held at Kurukshetra, was attended by Haryana Governor Sh. Bandaru Dattatraya, Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, AYUSH and Health Minister Kumari Arti Singh Rao, MP Sh. Naveen Jindal, renowned Ayurvedacharya Balkrishna, and several other dignitaries. Participants also witnessed the live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Swami Ramdev, while addressing the gathering, emphasized the spiritual and cultural significance of yoga, calling it “the foundation of life, devotion, nature, and culture.”
He highlighted how Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the United Nations in 2014 led to the global recognition of Yoga Day—now embraced by over 200 countries. Ramdev praised the PM’s vision of blending “development with heritage and prosperity with culture,” and called yoga a national duty for every Indian.
In a major push for institutionalizing yoga, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced a series of new initiatives:
- 100 new Yoga evam Vyayamshalas to be established this financial year, adding to the existing 883 centres.
- Launch of a Yoga Writer Incentive Scheme to promote academic research in yoga, with annual awards for outstanding work.
- Construction of an International Meditation Hall at Shri Krishna AYUSH University in Kurukshetra.
- Implementation of a credit-based yoga evaluation system in all government schools.
- A uniform yoga curriculum for universities and colleges across the state.
- Recognition of yoga and naturopathy under the AYUSH system, with official registration of practitioners to begin soon.
In a move aimed at promoting well-being in the workplace, the CM also announced a 5-minute daily ‘Yoga Break’ in all government offices of Haryana.
Commending the Haryana government for its commitment, Swami Ramdev said the state, under CM Saini’s leadership, has successfully connected lakhs of people to yoga through meaningful initiatives.
As part of the celebrations, three booklets published by Patanjali Yogpeeth—focusing on Swami Ramdev’s life and yoga journey—were released by the Chief Minister, along with a Yoga Protocol guide by the Haryana Yog Aayog. A video message by Geeta Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj was also played during the event.
Dignitaries including Former Minister Subhash Sudha, Haryana Yog Aayog Chairman Dr. Jaideep Arya, Additional Chief Secretary of AYUSH Sudhir Rajpal, and Director General AYUSH Sanjeev Verma were also present.
With sweeping reforms and enthusiastic public participation, Haryana’s celebration of International Yoga Day 2025 set a powerful example of integrating ancient wisdom with modern governance.