The West Bengal government has made participation in International Yoga Day celebrations on Sunday, June 21, 2026, compulsory for all state government employees, with attendance required between 6:30 AM and 7:45 AM.
The directive, issued by the Chief Secretary’s office on June 14, covers employees across all levels, including permanent, temporary, contractual, daily-wage, outsourced and honorarium-based staff. It also extends to employees of state-owned enterprises, autonomous bodies and local self-government institutions. Employees may participate at designated venues such as Red Road and Milan Mela in Kolkata, at their offices, at residential complexes or from home, but attendance is mandatory, and department heads have been told to ensure full compliance.
The order has unsettled many staff who are used to weekends off. Some said reaching venues so early would be difficult, while others noted the clash with Jamai Sasthi, a traditional festival that was a holiday under earlier arrangements. Plans for family trips and personal celebrations have been disrupted.
Questions have also been raised about implementation. Employees are unsure whether those joining from home must submit proof of participation, and no transport arrangements have been announced. With over 8 lakh permanent employees and a total covered workforce exceeding 15 lakh, officials acknowledged that full physical attendance is unrealistic, indicating that some staff will attend at workplaces while others join from home.
The main state event at Red Road is expected to be a high-profile affair. By contrast, the rules in some other regions remain voluntary, and employee groups have argued that participation should not be compulsory, warning that imposed attendance undermines the spirit of the occasion.
