On the occasion of the 12th International Yoga Day, BJP President Nitin Nabin performed yoga at an event organised by Rajya Sabha member Ashok Mittal in Punjab's Phagwara. The gathering saw the participation of around 12,000 people. Attending the event as a chief guest, this was the BJP national president's first official visit to the state after assuming the party’s highest organisational post.
His Punjab tour included participation in various programmes at Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Ludhiana, aimed at strengthening organisational outreach and public engagement across the state. Addressing the gathering, Nitin Nabin highlighted the global significance of yoga, stating that since its adoption by the United Nations following India’s proposal in 2014, yoga has rapidly evolved into a worldwide movement.
He said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts have transformed yoga from an ancient Indian tradition into a global celebration observed in more than 190 countries." Nabin further noted that the 12th International Yoga Day coincidentally coincides with the completion of 12 years of Prime Minister Modi’s tenure, making the occasion even more special.
The event was centred around the special '12-12-12' theme, symbolising the 12th edition of International Yoga Day, 12 years of yoga’s global expansion under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, and the participation of nearly 12,000 people at the campus of Lovely Professional University (LPU).
The theme underscored the scale and significance of the celebration. Speaking at the event, Ashok Mittal said: "Our objective is to bring together more than 12,000 people through yoga and send a powerful message that health, well-being, and inner balance can serve as instruments for social unity and national strength."
He also said: "The global recognition yoga enjoys today is the result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership, which has taken India’s ancient wisdom to the world stage. This year’s theme, ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’, reminds us that yoga has the potential to enhance the quality of life at every stage."
"Through this initiative, we are especially encouraging young people to make yoga an integral part of their daily routine," Mittal added. During the ceremony, Nitin Nabin, Ashok Mittal, and other distinguished guests placed their messages in a time capsule installed at the university campus.
The capsule will be reopened in 2047 as a symbolic marker of India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation. On the occasion, MP Mittal also administered an anti-drug pledge to more than 12,000 participants, who vowed to stay away from substance abuse and spread awareness among others.