NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Atlanta, GA, June 15, 2026: The Consulate General of India in Atlanta, in collaboration with the Gandhi Foundation USA (GFUSA)–Atlanta Chapter, organized a curtain-raiser event for the 12th International Day of Yoga at the historic The King Center on June 14.
The event was held at Freedom Plaza at the MLK National Historic Site. Organizers said the venue was chosen to highlight the shared values of peace, harmony, nonviolence, and human well-being embodied by both yoga and Dr. King’s vision for humanity.
This year’s International Day of Yoga theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” was featured prominently during the program. Participants learned about yoga’s role in promoting physical fitness, mental well-being, and healthy living at every stage of life. Attendees also took part in a group yoga session at the plaza.
The event served as a prelude to the main International Day of Yoga celebrations scheduled for June 21 at Gokuldham.
Following the program, Dr. Subash Razdan, chair of the Gandhi Foundation USA, sent a letter of appreciation to Bernice King, thanking her and the King Center staff for their support in making the event a success.
In his message, Razdan noted that holding the gathering at a site so closely connected to Dr. King’s vision added special significance to the occasion. He praised the strong participation and positive response from attendees, including a large delegation from the Heartfulness movement.
“The strong participation and positive response from attendees reflected the enduring relevance of the values shared by Dr. King and Mahatma Gandhi,” Razdan wrote. “Through yoga, reflection, and community engagement, we celebrated these ideals while fostering understanding, harmony, and well-being.”
Razdan also expressed appreciation for the King Center’s ongoing work in preserving and advancing Dr. King’s teachings and said GFUSA looked forward to future collaborations promoting peace, nonviolence, and compassionate leadership.
Razdan noted that GFUSA was founded to promote the message of peace and nonviolence espoused by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He said the King Center has long recognized the connection between the two leaders, pointing out that a Gandhi Room has been part of Freedom Hall since 1987.
There is also a life-size bronze statue of Gandhi at the nearby Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, managed by the National Park Service. Visited by more than one million people each year, the park stands as a symbol of the enduring influence of Gandhi and King’s shared philosophy of peace, nonviolence, and human dignity.
The International Day of Yoga, observed annually on June 21, was established by the United Nations in 2014 following a proposal introduced by Narendra Modi. Since then, yoga events have been held worldwide to promote health, wellness, and global harmony.
