GUWAHATI: The Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission(ASRLM), under the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, will observe the International Day of Yoga on Sunday, June 21 across the state in collaboration with the Department of AYUSH, Government of Assam, with active participation from Self-Help Group (SHG) members.
While the central celebration for International Day of Yoga 2026 will be held in Guwahati, graced by Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, P&RD Minister Atul Borah will attend a parallel programme in Golaghat.
The state-wide initiative is designed to promote yoga as part of a healthy lifestyle among SHG members and their families, with an emphasis on physical, mental, and emotional well-being in rural communities.
As part of the observance, yoga sessions will be conducted across 23,498 villages at 37,383 venues, with an expected participation of over 32,19,898 SHG members, making it one of the largest grassroots yoga mobilisation efforts in the state.
Ahead of the day, the Department of AYUSH developed a Common Yoga Protocol consisting of basic asanas tailored for SHG members, which participants have been practising since June 1. The department has also provided trained resource persons, capacity-building support, and the materials needed to roll out the programme at scale.
Officials said the initiative reflects ASRLM's broader commitment to holistic empowerment, linking health and wellness with its ongoing work to strengthen women's collectives and rural livelihoods across Assam. Through the collaboration, ASRLM and the Department of AYUSH hope to encourage SHG members to adopt yoga as a sustained practice and promote healthier rural communities.