Modi’s Yoga guru to lead International Yoga Day event 2026 at Times Square

• H R Nagendra will lead Yoga Day celebrations in Times Square.
• The event will take place on June 21 in New York.
• Nagendra will also inaugurate a wellness retreat in Monticello.
• The retreat will focus on yoga, meditation, and healthy aging.
• This year’s Yoga Day theme is “Yoga for Healthy Aging.”

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s yoga guru, H R Nagendra, will lead the International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at New York’s iconic Times Square on June 21.

Ahead of the celebrations, Nagendra will also inaugurate a special yoga and wellness retreat in Monticello, New York, from June 12 to 14.

The retreat will feature yoga sessions, meditation programs, lectures on stress management, healthy aging, and holistic wellness. It will also include interactive discussions with community leaders, physicians, and wellness professionals.

The event is being organized by the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), BRUHUD NY Seniors, and Jaipur Foot USA.

Nagendra, a Padma Shri awardee, serves as president of the Bengaluru-based Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhan Samsthana (S-VYASA) University. N K Manjunath, vice chancellor of the university, will also attend the retreat.

Following the wellness program, Nagendra will travel to New York City to participate in the International Day of Yoga celebrations at Times Square on June 21.

The event is being organized by the Consulate General of India in New York, and Nagendra will attend as the chief guest.

Speaking about his visit, Nagendra said, “I am delighted to visit New York for the International Day of Yoga celebrations. I am honored to join the Times Square Yoga event at the invitation of the Consulate General of India, New York.”

The International Day of Yoga has become a major global event since its launch in 2015. Millions of people across countries participate in yoga sessions and wellness activities every year.

Prem Bhandari, President of RANA, highlighted the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in bringing global recognition to yoga.

“Yoga is India’s timeless gift to humanity. The global recognition of yoga received a historic boost through the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose initiative at the United Nations led to the declaration of June 21 as the International Day of Yoga,” Bhandari said.

This year’s International Day of Yoga will be celebrated under the theme “Yoga for Healthy Aging.”

The theme focuses on promoting yoga as a tool for longevity, mobility, preventive healthcare, and overall well-being. Organizers say it encourages people of all ages to adopt healthy lifestyles through regular yoga practice.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on December 11, 2014, declaring June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

The first International Day of Yoga was observed on June 21, 2015.

Since then, the annual event has grown into a worldwide movement, with participation from governments, organizations, yoga practitioners, and communities around the globe.

This year’s celebrations in New York are expected to bring together yoga enthusiasts and community members to mark the occasion at one of the world’s most recognizable locations, Times Square.