AP Launches Ambitious ‘Yogandhra 2026’ Campaign Ahead of International Yoga Day

The Andhra Pradesh Government has launched an ambitious statewide initiative, Yogandhra 2026 , with the goal of transforming yoga into a mass public movement and promoting healthier lifestyles across the state. Timed to coincide with International Yoga Day on June 21 , the programme will be conducted for 14 days from June 7 , reaching communities from villages to major urban centres.

The action plan was approved during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu , who directed officials to ensure extensive public participation. The government has set a target of involving nearly one crore people , making it one of the largest yoga outreach programmes undertaken in the state.

A major attraction of the campaign will be the state-level yoga event in Amaravati on June 21 , where around 25,000 participants are expected to perform yoga simultaneously on the landmark bridge across the Krishna River , constructed as part of the West Bypass Road project. The Chief Minister will personally participate in the session, which is expected to become a signature event of the celebrations.

Alongside the Amaravati programme, every district headquarters will host large-scale yoga sessions involving at least 1,000 participants . Ministers and senior district officials will take part in these events to encourage public engagement. To facilitate smooth organisation, the government has allocated ₹25 lakh to each district .

The initiative is being implemented through a coordinated effort involving the Health, Education, Municipal Administration, Panchayat Raj, Endowments and IT Departments . Officials said the objective is to integrate yoga into daily life rather than restrict it to a ceremonial observance.

As part of the celebrations, special yoga demonstrations will be conducted at 56 prominent tourist destinations across all 26 districts . Two districts will host such programmes each day, with approximately 500 participants attending sessions at selected locations. Yoga activities will also be organised in government offices, educational institutions, parks, Swarna Wards and Swarna Villages throughout the campaign period.

To encourage greater participation, the government will present awards recognising outstanding performance and involvement at village, district and state levels.

The state is also significantly expanding its training network. In addition to the existing 1.5 lakh yoga trainers and practitioners , efforts are underway to prepare another one lakh volunteers and trainers ahead of the campaign.

During the review meeting, the Chief Minister unveiled the official Yogandhra 2026 poster prepared under the guidance of Dr Mantena Satyanarayana Raju , Advisor to the State Government on Yoga and Naturopathy. The government will also release a comprehensive digital learning package featuring 90 yoga asanas , specialised modules addressing 21 chronic health conditions , daily yoga practice routines and seven dedicated pranayama videos .

Citizens can access the training content free of cost by sending a WhatsApp message saying “Hi” to 8142404888 or by scanning the official QR code. Officials believe the initiative will not only improve physical and mental well-being but also establish Andhra Pradesh as a national model for community-based yoga participation.