Gandhinagar, June 19 (UNI) The 11th International Yoga Day celebrations will be held in Vadnagar, the birthplace of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on June 21. The state-level ceremony will take place at Sharmistha Lake in Vadnagar, with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel leading the event.

The theme of this year's International Yoga Day is 'One Earth-One Health', and the state government has set a target of making Gujarat a "Healthy Gujarat" and "Obesity-Free Gujarat." The event will feature a large-scale yoga programme, with Health Minister Rishikesh Patel, Sports Minister Harsh Sanghvi, and other dignitaries in attendance.

The International Yoga Day was recognised by the United Nations in 2014, following a proposal by Prime Minister Modi, and is celebrated worldwide on June 21. This year, the Prime Minister will participate in a yoga program in Vishakhapatnam and will address the nation on the importance of yoga and a healthy lifestyle.

The state government has planned a series of events to promote yoga and encourage public participation. The events will be held at various iconic locations across the state, including Vadnagar, and will feature live telecasts of the Prime Minister's address.

The Gujarat government aims to involve around 1.5 crore citizens in the yoga day celebrations this year, with events planned at the district, taluka, and village levels. The government has also planned to organise yoga programmes in schools, colleges, and other public institutions, with a target of involving around 5.73 lakh people.

Last year, Gujarat played a leading role in celebrating the 10th International Yoga Day, with over 1.31 crore participants. This year, the state aims to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest yoga programme in the Bhujangasana pose at Sharmistha Lake in Vadnagar.

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