Sabah al-khair. Good morning. Namaste. Marhaban,

Well, I'm not really ambassador yet but Ambassador designated because I just arrived here one week back, exactly a week back here in Oman.

Well, I think this is my first major public event. And I'm very glad that all of you have come here. Early in the morning, to perform the yoga session.

We are celebrating the 12th International Yoga Day. As we know, some of you probably know, in 2014, the first time the United Nations declared 21st June as the International Day of Yoga. Now 12 years have flown by and we have reached our 12th years.

Yoga has become an international movement. While we are performing here yoga sessions, back home in Kolkata, There is a major gala event which is being taking place.

Probably all over the world, we are all performing yoga. I'm speaking of a major Guinness Book of World Record in terms of number of people performing yoga at the same time. So I think yoga has really become a big global movement. It has mainstreamed into all aspects of human life.

I'm very glad that it is being performed in Oman in a very big number. I have been seeing and witnessing myself how yoga has become really a part of life in Oman. Several organizations are performing and organizing these events on the local corner of Oman. I have myself attended quite a few. I'm quite impressed by the level of yoga here.

We have just witnessed how good I think these two ladies were. I think it was really a very good performance. And they have done really well that they came 4th in the global competition that speaks for itself that how good they must be. Well, we all general folks can't attain that kind of level of yoga but I think we can do yoga every day. That is what the theme of this year's yoga. That is yoga for healthy aging. If we spend a little bit of time every day so that we can age well. And that is how I think yoga is. It is not only for the physical well-being but also the mental wellness and inner harmony. That is one of the benefits of yoga.

Well, I will read out a message of our Prime Minister addressed to His Majesty here on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. And he has enumerated quite a lot of benefits and how yoga as a theme is relevant in today's life.

“Your Majesty, Namaskar. The global community is once again preparing to celebrate the International Day of Yoga on 21st June 2026.

This year marks the 12th International Day of Yoga to be observed across the world under the theme Yoga for Healthy Aging. I write to seek your continued support in advancing the shared vision of global well-being through yoga. Over the past decade, yoga has emerged as a global movement for health, harmony and human connection.

Across cultures and societies, it has inspired millions to embrace a more balanced and mindful way of life. More than a practice for physical fitness, yoga is a timeless philosophy that nurtures harmony between body, mind and spirit while fostering a deeper connection with nature. As people across the world aspire to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives, ensuring healthy and dignified aging has become a shared global priority.

The growing burden of lifestyle related elements further underscores the importance of preventive health care and holistic well-being. In this context, the theme Yoga for Healthy Aging holds special significance. Through regular practice, yoga strengthens physical vitality, enhances mental resilience and fosters emotional balance, enabling people to lead healthier, more active and fulfilling lives.

Beyond personal well-being, yoga offers a broader vision for humanity. In an age marked by rapid technological change, rising stress and social fragmentation, yoga provides a pathway to inner balance and harmony. It encourages mindful and sustainable living while deepening our collective sense of responsibility towards one another and the planet.

I deeply appreciate your personal support and the efforts made in your country towards promoting yoga and healthy living. Your encouragement has contributed significantly to the growing recognition of yoga as a force for bringing social harmony and collective resilience. I am confident that our continued support will further strengthen this global movement and inspire many people to embrace yoga as a way of life.

Please accept your majesty the assurances of my highly consideration. “

So this is the message given by our Prime Minister. As our Prime Minister has very correctly said that the Oman has been making special efforts in promoting and propagating and accepting yoga and its principles.

I must thank the government of Oman, Oman authorities and his majesty for allowing and promoting the practice of yoga throughout this country. And in fact the testimony is that we have the Oman chapter of yoga here. So I am really grateful to the madam here who has attended earlier sessions also and that way also she is present and I hope with your support yoga will be more popular and yoga is important as many people would follow the practice of yoga in your country.

Okay, I think I must thank all our volunteers and the demonstrators as well as those who have been making preparations for last two to three days for making this event a good success. We in fact had very little time in arranging this event and I must thank my own team, our embassy team which has been working very very hard in making this event a great success and organizing and getting the permissions and making the arrangements very early in the morning. And well, I think thanks to all of you who have turned up, we are in big numbers.

So thank you once again and I can say happy International Day of Yoga. Shukran jazeelan. Namaskar.