ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS — The peaceful banks of the Maas River in Rotterdam turned into a vibrant center for health and unity as the Embassy of India, celebrated the International Day of Yoga 2026. Bringing together members of the Indian diaspora and Dutch citizens alike, the waterfront event highlighted the rapidly growing popularity of yoga as a universal practice for health, wellness, and harmony.
This year, the global celebration centers around the theme "Yoga for Healthy Ageing." Addressing the enthusiastic gathering, the Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, Kumar Tuhin emphasized the vital role yoga plays in promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being throughout every stage of life, encouraging everyone to make it a part of their daily routine.
Speaking to our correspondent, Ambassador Tuhin shared an inspiring vision of how yoga transcends geographical boundaries to unite diverse cultures.
“See, yoga has this timeless message which, of course, started in India,” the Ambassador noted. “But we keep mentioning that while the origin is in India, now yoga belongs to the full world. Therefore, when people do yoga, they keep themselves happy and healthy, but it also connects people from all the countries, regardless of whatever boundaries are there. This has the power to connect—the power to act as a bridge.”
The Ambassador explained that the true essence of the practice extends far beyond physical exercise, serving as a tool for global peace.
“The message is very simple: we keep ourselves healthy both as a physical being, but also spiritually and mentally,” he stated. “And through that message of peace, we transmit this feeling of goodness and wellness all over the world.”
The celebrations in Rotterdam are part of a massive, country-wide movement. The Ambassador revealed that the International Day of Yoga is being celebrated at nearly 30 locations throughout the Netherlands this year, reflecting its deep acceptance among mainstream Dutch communities.
A key strategy of the Embassy has been to move the primary celebration to a new city each year to build a stronger, more inclusive rapport with local populations.
“What I have been trying to do is do yoga in partnership with the community,” Ambassador Tuhin explained. “We are partnering with different associations all over the Netherlands, and we invite them in terms of giving their own suggestions as to what they want to do… For example, last year we did it in The Hague, and this year we moved to Rotterdam so that we can join with the community here. My plan will be that maybe next year, we choose some other city.”
This localized approach is clearly paying off. The Ambassador expressed great pride in the visible growth of the practice, noting,
“We are very happy to see that the number of people who are participating, the number of associations that are joining, all is growing. Probably I would say that there is no city or no place here where you would not find a yoga studio. Through this connection, I think we will want to increase the visibility and also the profile of India in general.”
Beyond daily wellness, the Ambassador also spoke about the growing recognition of yoga as a competitive discipline internationally. He pointed to global yoga championships that bring greater visibility to the practice while preserving its traditional values, specifically congratulating the Dutch participants who recently won top honors at a prestigious yoga competition held in Gujarat, India—a milestone he praised as a beautiful reflection of the strong cultural friendship between India and the Netherlands.
Following the inaugural address, yoga instructor Vijay Ganesh, from the Embassy's Gandhi Cultural Centre, led the mass waterfront session through a series of serene postures, breathing exercises, and mindfulness techniques.
Recognizing the fast-paced lives of the modern workforce, Ganesh shared practical advice with our correspondent on how readers can easily integrate wellness into a hectic daily schedule. He recommended starting the morning with just five minutes of simple Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) to boost energy and whole-day productivity, provided there are no underlying back or cardiac issues.
For stress relief and better mental clarity, Ganesh highly recommended deep breathing practices (Sukha Pranayam) and alternate nostril breathing (Anulom Vilom Pranayam) to balance the nervous system. To combat insomnia and exhaustion, he advised practicing Bhramari Pranayama (humming bee breath) 10 to 15 times before going to bed.
"Once sleep quality increases, then automatically the next day they will wake up in a good spirit," Ganesh explained —
noting that these short practices fundamentally improve lung function, heart health, and overall digestion.
The Rotterdam gathering concluded on a profoundly positive note, with organizers and attendees describing the event as a highly successful celebration that successfully strengthened international friendships while promoting the core values of unity and holistic health.
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