Dehradun, March 17 -- Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday inaugurated the International Yoga Festival 2026 at Ganga Resort in Muni Ki Reti in Tehri district and said yoga is not merely an exercise but a holistic way of life. Addressing participants at the event, Dhami said yoga connects the soul with the divine and urged youth to adopt yoga as a part of their daily routine. "Yoga is not just a form of exercise but a complete lifestyle. It helps in achieving balance between body, mind and soul," the chief minister said, adding that young people engaged in various professions often experience stress and fatigue, and yoga can serve as an effective remedy. He said the state government has formulated the Yoga Policy 2025 and is establishing 50-bed and 10-bed AYUSH hospitals in every district. A provision of Rs.10 crore has also been made to promote yoga and spirituality in the state, he said. The seven-day International Yoga Festival is being organised jointly by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) and the Uttarakhand tourism department. The event, being held for the past 35 years, aims to promote yoga traditions across the world.This year's festival features various sessions on yoga, pranayama, meditation, Ayurveda, naturopathy and spiritual discourses, along with special programmes such as Run for Yoga, heritage walks and an international yoga conference. Dhami said yoga is an invaluable heritage of India's ancient spiritual tradition. "Thousands of years ago, our sages showed the path of harmony between body, mind and soul through yoga, which today has become a powerful means for achieving physical health, mental peace and spiritual growth worldwide," he said. Highlighting global recognition of yoga, the chief minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed in 2014 that June 21 be celebrated as International Yoga Day, which is now observed in more than 180 countries. Dhami said Uttarakhand is not only Devbhoomi but also Yogbhoomi, offering an ideal environment for yoga practice due to its sacred rivers, peaceful surroundings and spiritual energy. He added that Rishikesh has gained international recognition as the "Yoga Capital of the World". The chief minister said more than 300 AYUSH-based Ayushman Arogya Kendras are currently functioning in the state, while AYUSH hospitals are being set up in every district. Through the e-Sanjeevani portal, citizens are also receiving consultations from AYUSH specialists, he said. He added that under the Uttarakhand AYUSH policy, efforts are being made to promote medicine manufacturing, wellness, education, research and cultivation of medicinal plants. Spiritual economic zones are also being planned in both Garhwal and Kumaon divisions to promote Ayurveda, naturopathy, yoga and spiritual tourism, he said. On the occasion, Dhami also launched the "Uttarakhand Khoj" scheme aimed at connecting every village in Garhwal region with tourism. Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj said yoga has been an integral part of India's ancient traditions, while forest minister Subodh Uniyal said millions of people are benefitting from yoga practice today. Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam managing director Prateek Jain said more than 2,500 registrations have already been received for the festival and around 150 yoga institutions were associated with the event. Yoga practitioners from various institutions, including Gurukul Kangri, also demonstrated different yogic practices during the programme. Among those present were Muni Ki Reti municipal chairperson Neelam Bijalwan, Rishikesh municipal corporation chairperson Shambhu Paswan, Tapovan nagar panchayat chairperson Vinita Bisht, district magistrate Nitika Khandelwal, SSP Ayush Agrawal, Swami Chidanand Muni, Mahant Ravindra Puri, Bharat Bhushan, Yogacharya Usha Mata and thousands of yoga practitioners....