International Festival of Yoga and Meditation Held in Leh

The International Festival of Yoga and Meditation 2026 is being organised across Ladakh from June 15 to 21, 2026, to mark the 12th United Nations International Day of Yoga. The week-long festival includes events in Leh, Siachen Base Camp, and Pangong Lake.

International Day of Yoga

The United Nations General Assembly declared 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014. The first International Day of Yoga was observed on 21 June 2015, and the day is linked with the global practice of yoga as a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline.

Festival Venues and Institutions

The 2026 edition was inaugurated by Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra at the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre in Leh on 16 June 2026. The National Institute of Sowa Rigpa, Leh, and the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre organised a seminar on “Integration of Yoga for Public Health” on 18 June 2026.

Yoga and Sowa Rigpa

Sowa Rigpa is a traditional system of medicine practised in the Himalayan region, including Ladakh, and it is also known as the Tibetan system of medicine. The National Institute of Sowa Rigpa functions under the Ministry of Ayush and works on education, research, and clinical practice in this medical tradition.

Important Facts for Exams

• Leh is the largest town in Ladakh and serves as an important administrative and cultural centre.
• The Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre is based in Leh and conducts meditation and wellness activities.
• The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga is a central institute under the Ministry of Ayush.
• 21 June is observed globally as the International Day of Yoga.

2025 Edition

The 11th International Day of Yoga in Leh was observed on 21 June 2025 at the Astro Turf Open Stadium at Spituk. The 2025 festival was jointly organised by the UT Administration of Ladakh and the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre under the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”.

Public Health Context

Yoga is classified in India as a traditional wellness practice and is included in the broader framework of preventive health. The 2026 seminar in Leh included discussions on holistic health and the integration of Yoga with Sowa Rigpa.