-Union State Minister of Ayush Launched ‘Harit Yoga’
Bhubaneshwar : The Capital of Odisha witnessed a grand celebration as more than 6000 Yoga enthusiasts practiced Common Yoga Protocol at Kalinga stadium today. One of the Signature Events, ‘Harit Yoga’ launched as Union State Minister of Ayush Prataprao Jadhav along with other dignitaries planted medicinal plants to mark the launching of the signature event. Medicinal plants were distributed to all the Yoga enthusiasts in Bhubaneshwar.
While addressing the gathering, Union minister said, “Yoga has gained unprecedented popularity in last 10 years and now it has become a global phenomenon. In his Mann ki Baat address on 30 March, 2025 Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the importance of fitness in daily life and praised initiatives like International Yoga Day. While sharing India’s vision for a healthier world population, the PM mentioned the theme of IDY 2025 as ‘Yoga for one earth One health’. The theme ensures holistic health for whole world.”
Speaking about the ‘Harit Yoga’ initiative, the Minister emphasised: “Our health is inextricably linked to the health of our planet. Just as Yoga nourishes our mind and body, tree plantation nourishes the Earth, ensuring a greener and healthier future for generations to come.”
With this the Union Minister of State for Ayush (I/C), Prataprao Jadhav announced the launching of ‘Harit Yoga’ and said that Harit Yoga is part of the 10 Signature Events of IDY 2025. Union State Minister Shri Jadhav planted medicinal plants along with other dignitaries to mark the launch of Harit Yoga.
Mentioning about sustainability and environmental aspect of Yoga, the Union Minister of State aligned Harit Yoga with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ and said, “This initiative encourages individuals to plant trees as a symbolic act of nurturing both personal and planetary health.”
Union Minister also highlighted the success of the ‘Prakruti Parikshan Abhiyan’ in which Prakruti Parikshan of more than 1.29 crore people was conducted earning a place in the Guiness Book of World Records.
Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha, Pravati Parida thrusting on the power of Yoga said, “Yoga inspires us to adopt healthy lifestyle. Let us integrate Yoga into our daily lives and draw strength from the divine energy of Lord Jagannath. On behalf of Odisha Government, we expressed gratitude to Government of India and Ministry of Ayush for giving Odisha and opportunity to become part of IDY 2025 in organizing 75th day countdown in Bhubaneshwar.”
While acknowledging the success of Yoga as a soft power at global scale, Member of Parliament, Puri Lok Sabha, Sambit Patra said, “Thanks to the vision of our PM, 177 countries unanimously adopted India’s proposal to declare 21st June as International Day of Yoga in 2014.”
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush praised the enthusiastic turnout and noted that the 11th edition of IDY is poised to witness record-breaking global participation.
The event was also witnessed the auspicious presence of Monalisa Dash, Joint Secretary, Ayush; Sulochna Das, Mayor, Bhubaneshwar, Nishant Mehra, OSD to Ayush Minister and several other distinguished guests.
After the addresses, the demonstrators of Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, under the leadership of Dr. Kashinath Samagandi, Director MDNIY, performed a live demonstration of the Common Yoga Protocol. More than 6000 Yoga enthusiasts performed the Common Yoga Protocol under the ambience of Kalinga Stadium. The programme was streamed through various social media platforms of the Ministry of Ayush, MDNIY, and other Yoga institutions.
Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) was given a huge importance in today’s Yoga Mahotsav. CYP is designed with inputs from experts as it comprises day-to-day Yoga practice to reap all the benefits of Yoga. The protocol is intended to popularise Yoga practices like Yoga Nidra, Pranayama, Dhyan, etc. Each Yogic activity is key to improving flexibility, strength, balance, and harmony. Yoga Portal by the Government of India is a platform to help people embrace, practice, and enjoy Yoga every day.
To mark the launch of Harit Yoga more than 5000 medicinal plants were distributed amongst the Yoga enthusiasts. This initiative integrates Yoga with environmental consciousness.
The Yoga Mahotsav in Bhubaneswar marked a significant step towards IDY-2025, reinforcing the Government of India’s commitment to promoting holistic health and environmental sustainability through Yoga.
10 unique signature events to guide events to International Day of Yoga 2025
This year IDY activities will revolve around 10 unique signature events to mark the 11th edition of the global event, which makes it the most expansive and inclusive:
● Yoga Sangama – A synchronised Yoga demonstration at 1,00,000 locations, aiming for a world record.
● Yoga Bandhan – Global partnerships with 10 countries to host Yoga sessions at iconic landmarks.
● Yoga Parks– Development of 1,000 Yoga Parks for long-term community engagement.
● Yoga Samavesh – Special Yoga programs for Divyangjan, senior citizens, children, and marginalised groups.
● Yoga Prabhava – A decadal impact assessment on Yoga’s role in public health.
● Yoga Connect – A Virtual Global Yoga Summit featuring renowned Yoga experts and healthcare professionals.
● Harit Yoga – A sustainability-driven initiative combining Yoga with tree planting and clean-up drives.
● Yoga Unplugged– An event to attract young people to Yoga
● Yoga Maha Kumbh – A week-long festival across 10 locations, culminating in a central celebration led by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
● SamYogam – A 100-day initiative integrating Yoga with modern healthcare for holistic wellness.
Annexure
The International Day of Yoga (IDY) has become a global wellness movement, uniting millions across countries. Here’s a brief look at its key milestones:
● IDY 2015 – New Delhi: The first IDY at Rajpath saw 35,985 participants, setting two Guinness World Records.
● IDY 2016 – Chandigarh: 30,000+ participants gathered at Capitol Complex, including 150 Divyangjan performing Yoga Protocol for the first time. The Prime Minister emphasised Yoga’s role in treating ailments like diabetes.
● IDY 2017 – Lucknow: 51,000 participants joined at Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, with Yoga highlighted as affordable ‘health insurance’.
● IDY 2018 – Dehradun: 50,000+ participants at Forest Research Institute, with the theme “Yoga for Public Health”. ISRO launched BHUVAN-YOGA and Yoga Locator apps.
● IDY 2019 – Ranchi: Focused on ‘Yoga for Heart Care’, with eco-friendly Yoga accessories benefiting Khadi artisans.
● IDY 2020 – Virtual: Amid the pandemic, 12.06 crore people joined online. The “My Life, My Yoga” contest attracted entries from 130 countries.
● IDY 2021 – Virtual: Themed “Yoga for Wellness”, reaching 496.1 million people globally. Iconic celebrations occurred at Times Square, the Eiffel Tower, and Tokyo Sky tree.
● IDY 2022 – Mysuru: 15,000 participants at Mysore Palace, with a ‘Guardian Ring’ global Yoga relay and VR-powered digital exhibition.
● IDY 2023 – Jabalpur & UN HQ, New York: With 23.44 crore participants, this IDY set two Guinness World Records, including the most significant Yoga session (1.53 lakh participants in Surat). The ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’ covered 35,000 km.
● IDY 2024 – Srinagar: Held at SKICC, Srinagar, with 7,000 participants braving the rain. The ‘Yoga for Space’ initiative saw ISRO scientists join in. A Guinness World Record was set in Uttar Pradesh, with 25.93 lakh people pledging to Yoga. 24.53 crore global participants marked this as a historic celebration.