Yogandhra-2026: Andhra Pradesh plans statewide yoga drive from June 7 to June 20

Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Monday announced that the state will launch the 14-day Yogandhra-2026 campaign from June 7, with a target of involving one crore people in yoga-related activities ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21.

Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, Yadav said special programmes would be organised across the state under the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing” to create awareness about yoga and encourage people to adopt it as part of their daily lives.

“One crore citizens, including farmers, women self-help groups, fishermen, tribal communities, students, youth associations, and members of voluntary organisations, will participate in Yogandhra programmes across the state,” Yadav said.

The campaign will run from June 7 to June 20 and will culminate in International Yoga Day celebrations on June 21.

A state-level yoga event involving 25,000 participants will be organised on the Krishna River bridge being constructed as part of the West Bypass project in Amaravati. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is expected to participate in the programme.

Yadav said the government is targeting the creation of 10 lakh regular yoga practitioners and plans to expand the trainer network to 2.5 lakh by adding one lakh instructors to the existing pool of 1.5 lakh trainers.

According to the minister, the Chief Minister has approved a proposal to establish the Andhra Pradesh Yoga Prachara Parishad to promote yoga awareness across the state. The proposal is currently under consideration by the Finance Department.

Yadav said three regional offices would be set up under the Parishad to monitor and promote yoga-related activities throughout the year.

A special war room is also being established at the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation in Mangalagiri to monitor programme implementation and coordinate yoga activities across departments.

The minister said Yogandhra activities would be conducted across all 28 districts under different themes. Special yoga sessions will also be organised at 56 tourist destinations, with two locations identified in each district.

Daily yoga events involving at least 500 participants will be held at selected tourist destinations during the campaign period. The inaugural programme is proposed to be held at Lepakshi in Sri Sathya Sai district on June 7.

Officials said competitions in yoga asanas, pranayama, synchronised group yoga, quizzes, essay writing and slogan contests would be conducted at village, mandal, district and state levels between June 7 and June 20.

Outstanding performers will be invited to participate in the state-level celebrations in Amaravati. District headquarters will also host separate International Yoga Day events involving around 3,000 participants each.

Yoga awareness and training material will be made available free of cost through digital platforms, according to the press release.

Officials said 90 yoga asana videos, 21 disease-prevention modules, seven daily practice routines and 50 short explanatory videos will be distributed through WhatsApp and the Sanjeevani App to encourage public participation.