Kolkata’s historic Red Road roared with the energy of 35,000 yoga practitioners on Sunday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined them for the 12th International Day of Yoga. The Prime Minister moved among participants, corrected postures, and performed Tadasana, Ardha Chakrasana, Bhadrasana and Trikonasana as the crowd followed the Common Yoga Protocol.

Modi said yoga has become the world’s largest community movement and is uniting people, nations and cultures. “The entire nation, world, seems connected. This is the power of yoga. Yoga connects everyone, brings everyone together,” he said. He also praised West Bengal for carrying forward yoga through saints like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda and Lahiri Mahasaya, calling collective practice on Bengal’s sacred land a unique spiritual experience.

The theme for this year’s International Day of Yoga is “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”. Modi explained the theme in personal terms: “We should strive to remain as flexible at 40 as we were at 20, stay as energetic at 50 as we were at 30, and look and remain healthy at 70 as we were at 50.” He said the message is not for the elderly only — it applies to people of all ages.

Before the main session, Modi performed Sukshma Vyayam, a yoga warm-up, and during Sheetali Pranayama he gestured to participants to stick out their tongues while practising the breathing technique. He spent time at different locations across the venue, guiding people on how to perform asanas correctly and interacting with them.

The day’s celebrations were spread across India. In Visakhapatnam, Baba Ramdev led an event where young men and women practised yoga on poles and ropes. In Vadodara, women performed aqua yoga in a swimming pool at the Sama Sports Complex. Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel of the 47th Battalion performed yoga on the banks of Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh at an altitude of 13,862 feet.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said yoga is India’s heritage and a gift to the world. “When the world was searching for peace, India gave Lord Buddha, and when the world sought ways to maintain health, Indian sages gifted yoga to humanity,” he said. He urged all Indians to make yoga part of their daily routine.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, speaking after a Mumbai event, highlighted massive participation in West Bengal and said residents of North Mumbai practised yoga on the seashore alongside spiritual leaders. He recalled Modi encouraging him to practise yoga and pranayama during the COVID-19 period and linked good rainfall to better crops, food security and growth.

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan extended Yoga Day greetings from Bhopal, saying yoga unites humanity and reflects “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — the world is one family. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh performed yoga in Shillong. Home Minister Amit Shah practised yoga in Ahmedabad, while Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi also joined celebrations.

June 21 was chosen for International Yoga Day because it is the summer solstice — the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Yogic tradition says on this day Lord Shiva, regarded as the first yogi, began teaching yoga to the Saptarishis. The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated on 21 June 2015 at Rajpath in New Delhi, with 35,985 participants including Modi and representatives from 84 countries; the event set two Guinness World Records.

Why it matters: Yoga Day is now a global ritual that crosses borders, age groups and communities. The Prime Minister’s personal participation and public message — “be 50 at 70” — puts healthy ageing in the spotlight, while the scale of participation signals yoga’s cultural reach in India.

West Bengal has officially revised its Bakrid holiday schedule for 2026, putting an end to days of confusion surrounding the festival break across government offices, schools, and public institutions.

According to the latest administrative directive issued by the state government, May 28, 2026 (Thursday), has been declared the sole public holiday for Bakrid, also known as Eid-ul-Adha. The holiday has been notified under the Negotiable Instruments Act, making it applicable for government establishments and notified institutions across the state.

The revised order also confirmed that the previously announced holidays on May 26 and May 27 have been cancelled. Both days will now function as regular working days for government departments, educational institutions, and other state-run offices.

The clarification comes after widespread public discussion and uncertainty over whether the state would observe multiple holidays linked to Bakrid celebrations. Students, government employees, and private sector workers had been awaiting an official confirmation regarding the final holiday calendar.

Administrative officials stated that the updated directive was issued to streamline the official holiday schedule and avoid further confusion. Authorities also advised citizens and institutions to rely only on verified government notifications for information related to public holidays and festival schedules.

Bakrid is one of the major Islamic festivals celebrated across India and is observed with prayers, gatherings, and charitable activities. Since the festival date depends on moon sighting, state governments often review and finalize holiday schedules closer to the occasion.

In Kolkata and several other districts, educational institutions and offices are now expected to follow the revised government order without any additional holiday extension unless a fresh notification is issued later.

Officials clarified that no further changes to the Bakrid holiday calendar have been announced as of now. The updated schedule effectively limits the official Eid-ul-Adha break in the state to a single day on May 28, 2026.

Marco Rubio arrives in India for four-day diplomatic tour; meets Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio begins visit in Kolkata, to meet PM Modi and attend Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in Delhi

Marco Rubio landed in Kolkata on Saturday morning, launching a four-day official visit to India that will include meetings with top Indian leaders and regional engagements tied to the Quad, officials and local sources said.

Initial stop in Kolkata
Rubio — accompanied by his wife Jeanette D. Rubio and U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor — visited the Mother Teresa House of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata shortly after arrival, according to on-the-ground reports and photographs released by the Missionaries. The short visit included a tour of the facility and interactions with residents, agency staff and volunteers, sources familiar with the itinerary said.

Delhi meetings scheduled
After an overnight stay in Kolkata, Rubio is travelling to New Delhi where he is scheduled to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later today. The White House and India’s external affairs ministry confirmed the meeting in separate briefings, describing it as part of broader efforts to deepen bilateral ties on trade, technology and regional security.

Talks with Jaishankar and embassy events
On Sunday, Rubio will meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi for talks that officials said will focus on the Indo-Pacific, supply-chain resilience and defence cooperation. The U.S. diplomat is also slated to attend the U.S. Embassy’s Independence Day celebrations in Delhi, a customary engagement during visits by senior American officials that also serves as a platform for public diplomacy.

Quad agenda in focus
A major element of Rubio’s trip is his attendance at the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Tuesday, hosted by India in New Delhi. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will join the meeting at the invitation of EAM Jaishankar, the ministry said. The gathering will, according to the External Affairs Ministry, review progress on ongoing Quad projects and discuss regional and global issues of shared interest consistent with the Quad’s vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Agra and Jaipur on itinerary
Between the Delhi engagements, Rubio is scheduled to visit Agra and Jaipur on Monday, sources said. Those stops reflect a common diplomatic practice of including cultural and regional site visits alongside high-level talks; they also present opportunities for bilateral outreach in states outside the national capital.

What officials say
India’s External Affairs Ministry issued a brief statement noting the Quad meeting will “review progress on ongoing projects and discuss regional and global issues,” while a U.S. State Department spokesperson framed Rubio’s trip as a “chance to advance cooperation on economic and security issues, and to strengthen people-to-people ties.” Neither side provided a full public list of discussion items, citing the usual practice of bilateral consultations on sensitive issues.

Local reaction and ground cues
At the Missionaries of Charity facility in north Kolkata, staff described the Rubio visit as low-key and focused on welfare concerns rather than political messaging. A volunteer at the house said the family spent time with residents in the late morning and observed daily routines, declining to be named. Early-morning arrivals and a modest motorcade contrasted with higher-security visits seen during other high-profile foreign delegations.

Why the trip matters
Rubio’s visit comes as Washington and New Delhi seek to broaden cooperation beyond defence—into semiconductors, clean energy and supply-chain links—while coordinating on regional diplomacy. The Quad meeting will be watched for concrete project updates and possible statements on maritime security and climate resilience, areas where the four partners have sought practical cooperation.

Next steps and outlook
After the Quad meeting, Rubio’s delegation is expected to hold follow-up sessions with Indian officials and U.S. Embassy staff before concluding the visit late Tuesday. Officials on both sides signalled that outcomes would likely be framed as incremental steps in an expanding strategic partnership rather than sweeping policy shifts.

A video from West Bengal is making the rounds online—it shows BJP supporters stepping up and doing something thoughtful during their election celebrations. Basically, as they marched through a crowded street, blasting music and shouting slogans, a Muslim funeral procession needed to pass. The organizers didn’t hesitate. They cut the music and cleared the way for the cortege. People nearby said the scene really highlighted Bengal’s centuries-old mix of cultures, what’s often called "Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb."

One local—who watched it happen—said, “Politics matters, but honoring the departed comes first.” Honestly, this gesture stood out, especially with all the tension swirling around after the heated state elections. Moments like this, showing basic respect and harmony, rarely make headlines when the political drama takes center stage. But they speak volumes about what actually happens on the ground.

WB Phase 2: Over 61% turnout till 1 pm as TMC faces ‘litmus test’ in bastions

Polling is currently underway for 142 seats across South Bengal and Kolkata, with the Trinamool Congress defending its traditional strongholds against a surging BJP.

Kolkata: Long queues were visible outside polling booths across South Bengal on Wednesday morning as West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 61.11 per cent till 1 pm in the second phase of the 2026 Assembly Elections.

According to data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the polling process has remained largely brisk despite the rising afternoon heat. Hooghly district is currently leading the charts with a 64.57 per cent turnout, while Howrah followed closely at 60.68 per cent. In the state capital, Kolkata North saw 60.18 per cent polling, while Kolkata South registered a slightly lower 57.73 per cent turnout by early afternoon.

High stakes in South Bengal

This phase is being widely described by political analysts as the "litmus test" for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Of the 142 seats up for grabs today, the Mamata Banerjee-led party had secured a staggering 123 seats during the 2021 assembly polls.

The belt currently voting includes the party’s most reliable fortresses in South Bengal and the urban heart of Kolkata. For the TMC, maintaining its dominance here is essential for securing a fourth consecutive term. Conversely, the BJP is putting up a spirited challenge, hoping to capitalize on anti-incumbency and make significant inroads into the urban "bhadralok" vote and the influential Matua community pockets in Nadia.

Heavy polling in districts

Ground reports suggest a steady flow of voters since 7 am. In Nadia, which recorded 61.41 per cent polling till 1 pm, rural voters turned out in large numbers to beat the midday sun.

The ECI has deployed a massive security apparatus to ensure a peaceful process. Over 41,001 polling stations have been set up for this phase, which caters to an electorate of 3.21 crore. Notably, more than 8,000 booths are being managed entirely by women, a move aimed at encouraging female participation in what has historically been a high-turnout state.

Battle for the ‘Big Five’

While the numbers are impressive across the board, the spotlight remains fixed on the "Big Five" urban contests. Bhabanipur, the Chief Minister’s own backyard, remains the most watched seat. However, Tollyganj—the hub of the Bengali film industry—has also emerged as a high-profile battleground with several celebrity candidates in the fray.

The BJP’s strategy in this phase has focused heavily on highlighting issues of urban infrastructure and "syndicate culture," while the TMC has doubled down on its welfare schemes, particularly targeting women voters who have been a cornerstone of their electoral success.

Logistics and candidate profile

A total of 1,448 candidates are testing their luck today, including 220 women. Local authorities in Kolkata confirmed that while there were minor reports of technical glitches with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in a few pockets of Howrah and Kolkata South, these were swiftly addressed by booth officials to prevent any significant delays.

Looking ahead to May 4

As the day progresses, the focus will shift to the final turnout figures, which often cross the 80 per cent mark in West Bengal. In the 2021 edition, this specific belt saw intense polarization, and the current momentum suggests that the 2026 battle is being fought with equal, if not greater, intensity.

The fate of these 142 seats will be sealed in the ballot boxes by early evening, with the final counting of votes scheduled for May 4. For now, all eyes remain on the remaining hours of polling as the state decides whether the TMC’s "South Bengal fortress" remains intact or if the BJP has finally breached the wall.