KZN Premier Thami Ntuli with Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu.
Image: Supplied
South Africa’s national celebration of the United Nations-declared International Day of Yoga (IDY) will once again be anchored in Durban, which is officially recognised as the country’s national hub for this global observance.
The 12th edition of IDY will take place on Sunday, June 21, at the Durban Amphitheatre, with more than 5,000 participants expected to attend.
This year’s programme will be hosted and coordinated by Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu, a member of the Zulu Royal Household and the founding president of the Sivananda World Peace Foundation, which has served as the country's official host of IDY for 12 consecutive years.
A previous yoga day event.
Image: Supplied
As the founding custodian of the movement in KwaZulu-Natal, Ramlutchman continues to champion yoga as a national instrument of unity, wellness, and social cohesion in memory of his guru, Swami Sivananda, a pioneer of yoga.
Ramlutchman said the event received the full support of both the national government and the KZN Provincial Government, led by Premier Thami Ntuli, who had confirmed his participation for the third consecutive year.
He said the Zulu Royal Household had also reaffirmed its patronage of the programme, recognising its cultural, social, and wellness impact across the province.
"The programme enjoys the full support of the KZN Provincial Government, including the MEC for Health, the national Minister of Health, and provincial MECs. This endorsement positions Durban not only as a provincial host, but as the national centre of gravity for South Africa’s contribution to the global yoga movement," said Ramlutchman.
"Since the United Nations General Assembly adopted India’s proposal in 2014 to establish June 21 as the IDY, Durban has emerged as the continent’s most consistent and largest IDY host, with participation growing from a few hundred in 2014 to thousands annually.
"Attendance reached 4,500 in 2025, and we anticipate between 4,000 and 5,000 participants this year. Durban’s role is further strengthened by the support of foreign missions, including the South African High Commission in India, and by the city’s deep historical ties to Indian heritage and cultural practice."
Despite the rising hosting costs and logistical challenges, Ramlutchman has led the national movement to embed yoga into South Africa’s civic and cultural landscape.
His stewardship has positioned IDY as a unifying platform that transcends race, faith, age, and background, a message that resonates deeply in a country still healing from historical divisions.
“Yoga promotes healthy living and holistic well-being; values deeply rooted in our community. We remain deeply encouraged by the United Nations’ annual campaign promoting the IDY, its recognition of yoga’s ancient origins in India, its widespread practice across the world, especially in South Africa and across Africa in the future milestones.”
The event in Durban will be held from 9am to noon and is free.