President Murmu led a mass Yoga event in Dehradun on the 11th International Yoga Day, promoting Yoga as India’s soft power and a path to holistic wellness. Her emotional birthday moment with visually impaired children added a touching layer to her three-day visit to Uttarakhand.
President Droupadi Murmu participated in a grand mass Yoga programme at the Police Line Maidan in Dehradun on Saturday. The event marked the celebration of the 11th International Yoga Day, observed annually on June 21. Thousands of Yoga enthusiasts from different walks of life gathered to perform Yoga asanas alongside the President in an inspiring display of unity and wellness.
President Murmu greeted the large gathering with folded hands and a warm smile, acknowledging their enthusiastic participation. Addressing the crowd after the Yoga session, she emphasized the global significance of Yoga and its role in promoting a healthier lifestyle. “Since 2015, Yoga has become a common heritage of the entire humanity,” the President said, underlining its growing acceptance worldwide. “It is an important example of India’s soft power,” she added.
Reflecting on the core values of Yoga, President Murmu described it as “the art of living a healthy life.” She elaborated on the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of incorporating Yoga into daily routines. “When a person is healthy, the family tends to remain healthy. When the family and society remain healthy, the country remains healthy,” she noted, drawing attention to the chain of well-being that Yoga can foster.
More than just a physical activity, Yoga, according to the President, has a deeper role to play in building social harmony. “Yoga connects the body, mind and soul of a person and makes him healthy. It can also connect one person to another person, one community to another community, and one country to another country,” she said.
She urged citizens to make Yoga an integral part of their lives and to motivate others to do the same. Reinforcing the timeless wisdom that “prevention is better than cure,” she stressed how Yoga serves not just as a fitness regimen but also as a preventive healthcare measure.
The mass event in Dehradun was part of the President’s ongoing three-day visit to Uttarakhand, which began on June 19. Her itinerary reflects a blend of official duties, community engagements, and personal moments of emotional resonance.
One such touching episode unfolded on Friday at the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD) in Dehradun. There, President Murmu celebrated her 67th birthday in the company of visually impaired children. As the children sang a heartwarming birthday song for her, the President was visibly moved. Her eyes welled up with tears, and images of the emotional moment quickly went viral, striking a chord across the nation.
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The President’s visit to Uttarakhand not only reaffirms her commitment to grassroots engagement but also underlines her deep empathy and emotional connection with marginalized communities. Her participation in the International Yoga Day celebrations further highlights the significance the government places on promoting holistic health and cultural diplomacy.
As International Yoga Day continues to be observed globally, India, through its leaders and citizens, continues to champion the cause of wellness, unity, and shared human values. President Droupadi Murmu’s active involvement in the Dehradun event serves as a shining example of this mission.
