Kolkata, June 19 (IANS) The three-day celebration for International Yoga Day, commencing on June 21, was inaugurated on Friday, with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari taking part in both an inaugural marathon and a public Yoga session in the streets of central Kolkata.

The three-day event was kicked off this morning with a marathon — “CITY OF JOY – Daud Se Dhyan 2026” — in Kolkata that started in front of the main building of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) in the New Market area of central Kolkata.

The Chief Minister personally participated in the marathon, which attracted a large crowd. The event concluded in front of the Writers’ Buildings, the historic state secretariat. In addition to the general public, Adhikari’s cabinet colleagues and tennis champion Leander Paes, who is also a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), joined the marathon.

Thereafter, a public Yoga session was also arranged in front of the state secretariat. CM Adhikari was also seen participating in the session and performing various Yoga Mudras.

The CM said, “It was truly inspiring to see the immense energy and enthusiastic participation of the citizens. Let us continue to integrate Yoga into our daily routines, fostering a cleaner, greener and fitter society. Greetings to all the participants for making this event a grand success.”

On Thursday, while elaborating the state government’s plans to celebrate International Yoga Day, the Chief Minister clearly said that Yoga was not something which could be enforced on anyone.

“Yoga cannot be enforced on anyone. Yoga originated from the soil of West Bengal. Now, we are attempting to restore the same in its original place,” he said.

The state government has organised a mega programme in Kolkata on June 21 to celebrate International Yoga Day. The main programme will be at Red Road in central Kolkata, which will be attended by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The venue was selected considering the rainy season and the muddy conditions of various fields in the city. About 38,000 people have already registered to participate in the programme.

Seating arrangements have been made for about 35,000 people in front of the main stage. However, the administration expects lakhs of people to join the Yoga festival through simultaneous programmes organised in Kolkata and various nearby places.

–IANS

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