Indian High Commissioner Participates in Dhaka Yoga Day Celebration
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi attended the 12th International Day of Yoga event in Dhaka on Sunday, joining hundreds of participants in a celebration that underscores yoga's expanding reach in the country. The event, organized at a venue in the capital, drew yoga practitioners, wellness organizations, and members of the public, reflecting the annual observance's growing popularity.
Participants Share Their Experiences
Speaking to ANI, one attendee expressed enthusiasm: "Happy Yoga Day. I am participating in this event with a lot of excitement, goodwill, and best wishes for everybody. I have been participating in this event with lots of excitement for several years, and yes, it's a good feeling. So we were quite expecting to gather a lot of people, get more knowledge and awareness about this Yoga Day, and yes, of course, it is a very significant event for us. Day by day, it is getting more popular and more widespread in Bangladesh, not just in Dhaka, but also across the whole world."
A yoga instructor, marking his sixth year at the event, highlighted yoga's holistic benefits and advised practicing for at least 15–20 minutes daily. "I have been participating in Yoga Day for the last 6 years. So today is the International Yoga Day, and I wish you all the best. Yoga, you know, it's a holistic approach. Every human being needs to do yoga daily, not only for health but also for the mind and soul. So yoga connects body, mind and soul. If you want to live a healthy and happy life, you have to do yoga daily. At least 15 minutes to 20 minutes pranayama, yoga asana and meditation, also," he told ANI.
Quantum Foundation's Longstanding Role
Representatives from the Quantum Foundation, which has promoted yoga in Bangladesh for four decades, also joined the celebrations. A spokesperson noted the rising popularity: "We are from Quantum Foundation. We are a pioneer in yoga in Bangladesh. For the last 40 years, we have served our country by doing yoga, and we have conducted so many workshops and courses, over the last decades, actually, 30 years ago. Nowadays, in 2026, people are very interested in yoga. From the time we started that time, a few people knew about yoga. But today, you can see here that lots of people have come here to celebrate Yoga Day. And everybody is looking happy, peaceful. We are very happy today that we are celebrating International Yoga Day. And today, this year's theme is healthy ageing."
Another attendee from the Academy for a Better World, which has worked in Bangladesh for 25 years, echoed the sentiment: "We have been working for 25 years in Bangladesh. We are very happy to join this program. I think yoga is very helpful for our mind and body."
Yoga as a Spiritual and Holistic Practice
An attendee emphasized yoga's spiritual dimension, stating: "Happy International Yoga Day. I am so happy that I am an Eastern person. Yoga is my dharma. So this day is very glad to me that I can connect with my soul. … Basically, you know, yoga is not only one kind of technique just to connect your soul, but it's also not like that. It's a whole lifestyle. In our Vedic philosophy, yoga is one of the best philosophies. So it's the real path. You may find your own state. Nowadays, in modern day, we always, we have everything, but it's very difficult to connect with our inner peace. So yoga is a way. Few people practice very deeply. They know to connect their with their soul, and this is our real state. That's why I believe that nowadays, for mental health, for physical health, for spiritual health, only yoga is a way to connect."
He further distinguished Eastern and Western approaches: "You know, basically, in our Eastern philosophy, it's a spiritual philosophy. The problem is that Western philosophy treats our body only, but Eastern philosophy treats our soul first, cleans our soul, and then our mind, our body will be automatically."
Theme: Yoga for Healthy Ageing
The International Day of Yoga this year is observed under the theme 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing,' highlighting yoga's role in promoting a healthier and more active life across all age groups. The event in Dhaka demonstrated how yoga continues to gain traction in Bangladesh, with participation from diverse groups and organizations dedicated to its practice.
