BENGALURU, Nov 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that yoga has gained widespread recognition across the world because of India’s continued efforts to promote the ancient practice, adding that it has become an important subject of discussion during his international visits.
Addressing the golden jubilee celebrations of Prashanti Kutiram, the residential headquarters campus of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA), in Bengaluru, Modi said yoga has emerged as a significant means of introducing India’s cultural and spiritual heritage to the international community.
The Prime Minister said he was delighted to experience the positive energy associated with yoga in Bengaluru, describing the occasion as an opportunity to witness the growing influence of the traditional discipline.
Highlighting India’s role in taking yoga beyond national boundaries, Modi said the country’s initiatives had encouraged people across continents to embrace the practice.
He noted that International Yoga Day is now celebrated worldwide, reflecting the growing acceptance of yoga as an important component of physical fitness, mental well-being and a balanced lifestyle.
“Whichever country I go to, people discuss about Yoga with me over lunch and dinner,” the Prime Minister said, underlining how the practice has become a familiar subject in conversations with international leaders and communities.
Modi also observed that yoga has developed into a gateway for people seeking to understand India’s traditions, philosophy and cultural values. He added that several royal families around the world have developed a strong interest in the practice and remain devoted to it.
Referring to Karnataka’s contribution to India’s cultural and intellectual traditions, the Prime Minister said the state had been home to several renowned teachers and scholars associated with yoga.
He also recalled the contribution of legendary Kannada actor Dr Rajkumar, describing the late film personality as a practitioner of yoga.
The Prime Minister’s remarks highlighted the connection between India’s traditional knowledge systems and their growing international recognition. Yoga, which originated in India, has gradually developed into a widely followed discipline, attracting practitioners from different countries and age groups.
International Yoga Day, observed annually on June 21, has played an important role in expanding awareness about the practice. The United Nations adopted India’s proposal to establish the international observance in 2014, with the first global celebration taking place in 2015.
Since then, yoga-related events have been organised across countries, bringing together governments, educational institutions, wellness organisations and individuals.
During the Bengaluru programme, Modi also participated in several institutional development initiatives connected with S-VYASA.
He digitally laid the foundation stone of the Golden Jubilee Administrative Block, marking another step towards strengthening the institution’s administrative and educational infrastructure.
The Prime Minister also launched the S-VYASA off-campus facility at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, extending the institution’s presence beyond Karnataka.
The initiatives are aimed at supporting the institution’s expanding academic and research activities while strengthening opportunities for education and training in yoga.
S-VYASA has been associated with the promotion of yoga education, research and therapeutic applications. Its work combines traditional yogic knowledge with scientific approaches to understanding health and human well-being.
The golden jubilee celebrations provided an opportunity to recognise the institution’s contribution to yoga education and its efforts to promote the discipline through academic programmes and research.
Modi’s participation also highlighted the government’s continued emphasis on promoting India’s traditional systems of knowledge and presenting them on international platforms.
The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid growing global interest in holistic wellness practices, with yoga increasingly being adopted by individuals seeking to improve physical health, manage stress and develop mental discipline.
He reiterated that India’s cultural initiatives have helped establish yoga as an internationally recognised practice, strengthening the country’s global cultural presence.