Kolkata: The Hooghly is set to witness a never-seen-before spectacle as Kolkata gears up for a historic celebration of marking West Bengal Day on June 20 and the 12th International Day of Yoga on June 21. The programme is expected to exceed all past records to create a new Guinness World Record.
In a major political and cultural shift following the formation of the new state govt, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a massive three-day joint blueprint between the Centre and the state. “It is a proud moment for Bengal to host IDY 2026 national celebrations. Kolkata remains the spiritual and yoga capital of India. Many legendary yogis were born in this city, contributing to the evolution of yoga over the ages. This is why we call this celebration the ‘Homecoming of Yoga’. Due to the hidden agenda of the previous govt, International Yoga Day was hardly celebrated in the state,” he said.
“This year, Yoga Day will be celebrated across nearly 2,500 locations worldwide. Yoga 365 campaign aims to make yoga an integral part of daily life,” said Union minister Prataprao Jadhav. Twelve special philatelic covers have been released to commemorate International Day of Yoga 2026.
West Bengal Day and Yoga Day Highlights
The crown jewel of the festivities will take place on Saturday, June 20 — West Bengal Day. Dubbed 'Vande Yoga’, a massive spiritual carnival will kick off at 5:30 pm along the banks of the Hooghly. In a breathtaking bid for the Guinness World Records, 500 boats will hit the water synchronised in yoga postures on June 21.
The grandeur will peak at 8:00 pm with a mega drone light show. A fleet of 3,000 synchronised drones will illuminate the night sky above the iconic Howrah bridge and the Second Hooghly Bridge, weaving intricate cultural and mythological narratives. Millennium Park, Babughat and Belur Math will serve as primary vantage points for the public, alongside cultural shows, food stalls, sand art displays, laser shows and a 'Paint It, Click It' competition. Additionally, yoga sessions will stretch across prominent city landmarks, including Elliot Park, The 42 and the KMC headquarters.
Marathon and Grand Finale
The celebrations kick off on Friday, with a 2-km 'Run for Yoga' or 'Daud Se Dhyan' marathon across 11 key locations. The main segment will be flagged off by the CM at 7 am from the KMC headquarters, culminating at the historic Writers’ Building.
The grand finale on Sunday, will see PM Narendra Modi leading the mega Yoga Day session on Red Road, joined by Adhikari. Gates will open to the public at 5 am, with the main session starting at 6:45 am. For residents unable to attend in person, the state has installed LED screens at 45 major traffic intersections across Kolkata for live broadcasting, said KMC administrator Smita Pandey.
“We want to welcome the PM to a completely clean and eco-friendly, green city under the banner of Swachh Bharat,” Adhikari added, urging all citizens to join local cleanliness drives ahead of the historic weekend.
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