Attendance at the Yoga Day was compulsory for the West Bengal Government. personnel

People practice yoga ahead of International Yoga Day in Nadia, West Bengal, June 16, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

The West Bengal government has directed all government employees to participate in International Yoga Day on 21 June. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend.

It will be the Prime Minister’s first public appearance in West Bengal since he attended the swearing-in of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari after the BJP came to power.

Attendance is mandatory for all state government employees. An order dated June 14 from the office of West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal asked department heads, district magistrates and divisional commissioners to ensure compliance by their staff.

“The 12th International Day of Yoga will be celebrated on 21st June 2026 across the country to promote awareness about the importance of yoga for physical and mental well-being… All officers and employees including permanent, contract, casual, part-time, external and ex-gratia staff of the State Government, PSUs, Autonomous Bodies and Local Bodies shall from 21.06. 7:45 a.m. from their respective offices, homes and Red Road & Milan Mela if nominated,” the letter said.

The main event of Yoga Day will be held in the heart of Kolkata on Red Road and will be attended by PM Modi and West Bengal CM.

The Department of Health and Family Welfare in West Bengal has already organized several training sessions across the state for the main event on Sunday (June 21, 2026).

West Bengal will now observe Paschimbanga Dibas on June 20, with the celebrations scheduled to take place at the same venue at Red Road. PM Modi is scheduled to attend.

Traffic was diverted to Red Road to allow for the construction of a stage to host both events.

A cultural celebration

The event will be a celebration of the state’s history, culture and heritage. District committees will organize celebrations across the state.

The previous government celebrated the first day of Poila Baisakh (Bengali New Year) as ‘Bangla Dibas’ or West Bengal Foundation Day. The resolution was passed in September 2023 in the assembly with 167 MLAs supporting the resolution and 62 MLAs opposing it.

Controversy erupted in Bengal in 2023 over West Bengal Foundation Day when Raj Bhavan celebrated 20 June as State Foundation Day.

On 20 June 1947, Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mookerjee moved a motion in the Bengal Assembly calling for the partition of Bengal, paving the way for a “homeland for Hindus in Bengal”, according to the BJP. The current government has chosen this very day to celebrate Paschimbanga Dibas.

Published – 16 Jun 2026 23:18 IST