More than 100 community members gathered at the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center in Milpitas, Calif., on June 21 to celebrate the 12th International Day of Yoga. The participants embraced this year’s official global theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” during the weekend event.
The celebration was organized by the Consulate General of India, San Francisco, working in close collaboration with the Association of Indo Americans, the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center of Silicon Valley, and multiple supporting community organizations. The program brought together several people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of yoga and meditation.
A wide range of distinguished guests and local officials attended the gathering, to showcase and celebrate the growing impact and acceptance of yoga across diverse communities throughout the Bay Area. The public officials in attendance included Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano, Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan, and Milpitas Councilmember William Lam. Deputy Consul General of India Rakesh Adlakha and Sister Kusum of Brahma Kumaris also joined the event to show their support.
The group of prominent community members and advocates also included Milpitas Planning Commissioner Dipak Awasty, Indian community advocate Ajay Bhutoria, and former Saratoga Councilmember Rishi Kumar. Additionally, Bama Cariapa of Air India, Atma Dayal bhai, and Vandana Nair, a commercial specialist with the U.S. Consulate General in Dubai, were all present among the gathered crowd.
The scheduled program featured a guided meditation session led by Sister Kusum. Following the meditation, instructors Manoj Joshi and Ambili Sudhakaran led the attendees through dedicated yoga sessions. Organizers noted that these sessions were structured to be fully accessible to both beginners and experienced practitioners alike, with practices specifically designed to promote physical health, mental well-being, mindfulness, and healthy ageing.
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Serving as a proud co-hosting organization for the event, the Association of Indo Americans reaffirmed its long-term commitment to promoting personal wellness, cultural understanding, and active community engagement. The association serves the region as a broad coalition of more than 50 individual nonprofit organizations dedicated to community service, education, health, and civic engagement throughout Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Brief presentations during the occasion emphasized that yoga has evolved significantly beyond a basic physical exercise. Community leaders explained and took pride over the fact that that it has instead become a major global movement for holistic health, inner peace, and harmony. The gathering served as a direct reminder of yoga’s relevance over the years in fostering healthier lifestyles and building stronger communities.
Organizers noted that the enthusiastic turnout on Sunday directly reflected the steady rise in popularity for International Day of Yoga celebrations across the Bay Area. They added that the high level of participation shows an increasing recognition of the vital role that yoga plays in enhancing the overall quality of life for individuals.