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The 12th International Day of Yoga was observed across Australia and beyond on June 21, 2026, with events held from Perth to the Northern Territory and across India, bringing together diplomatic missions, community organizations, and wellness groups under the global occasion established by the United Nations in 2014.
High Commissioner of India Nagesh Singh opened celebrations at Old Parliament House in Canberra with a call for unity and reflection, hosting a one-hour yoga session led by Yoga Australia CEO Josh Pryor.
Tracing the roots of the practice, Singh noted that yoga derives from the Sanskrit word yuj, meaning “to unite” or “to join,” signifying the union of body, mind and spirit. “True well-being comes from harmony within ourselves and with the world around us,” he said.
The High Commissioner described the session as an opportunity for calm, mindfulness, and connection, noting that yoga is “not just exercise but a way of life that nurtures both body and mind.”
Addressing attendees Singh added: “As we celebrate this International Day of Yoga, let us recommit ourselves to the values that yoga embodies, harmony, inclusiveness, sustainability, and respect for all life.”
In Western Australia and the Northern Territory, the Consulate General of India in Perth, in collaboration with multiple organizations and community partners, organized International Day of Yoga celebrations across the state and beyond.
The Consulate noted that celebrations extended from Perth to regional cities including Geraldton, Karratha, and Bunbury, as well as across the Northern Territory, highlighting “the shared values of wellbeing, inclusivity, connection, and harmony.”
Consul Naresh Kumar, Head of Chancery, represented the Consulate General of India at the celebrations. Addressing participants, he noted that “in our diverse and vibrant community here in Western Australia, yoga continues to unite people across cultures and generations.”
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green OAM, shared a video from New Delhi showing Australian diplomatic missions participating in International Day of Yoga celebrations across multiple Indian cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. The High Commissioner noted that yoga connects people across borders and cultures.
In Melbourne, the Consulate General of India hosted an event at Albert Park Lake, bringing the community together to embrace this year’s theme of healthy ageing.
In Queensland, Consul General Neetu M. Bhagotia led celebrations at the Gold Coast in association with GOPIO Gold Coast. The event included meditation and sound healing sessions alongside yoga and was attended by Federal MP Angie Bell and Queensland State Minister Hermann Vorster as Chief Guests.
The Consulate General of India in Sydney, together with the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (ICCR) Sydney and the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, partnered with the Indian Australian Association of South Australia to hold a community session in Adelaide titled “Gentle Yoga for Pain-Free Living.”
Held at the IAASA Hall, participants engaged in gentle yoga practices focused on relaxation, ease of movement, and everyday wellness.
The International Day of Yoga has been observed globally on June 21 each year since the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution establishing the occasion in December 2014, following a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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