Renowned Yoga Guru Padma Shri Recipient Dr. H. R. Nagendra Arrives In New York

Yoga Guru Dr. H. R. Nagendra, President of S-VYASA University, Bengaluru, arrived June 10, 2026, at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, along with the Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. N. K. Manjunath.

Photo left, Dr. H.R. Nagendra arriving at JFK Airport; Photo right, Dr. Nagendra being hosted at RANA President Prem Bhandari’s residence. PHOTOS: Courtesy RANA

The renowned yoga guru was welcomed at the airport by Prem Bhandari, president of the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), New York; Ajay Patel, Vice President of Jaipur Foot USA and Chief Coordinator of the Jaipur Foot USA Permanent Center in Trinidad & Tobago; officials from the Consulate General of India, New York, and other community leaders, a press release from RANA said.

Several meetings and interaction programs in honor of Dr. Nagendra were scheduled to be held on his arrival at the residence of Prem Bhandari in New York.

Dr. H. R. Nagendra is visiting the United States at the invitation of RANA New York. A major highlight of his visit will be his participation as Chief Guest at the International Day of Yoga celebrations at Times Square on June 21, 2026, organized by the Consulate General of India, New York.

Dr. Nagendra played an important role in the planning and coordination of the first International Day of Yoga celebrations organized by the Government of India in 2015. He has also served as a member of the Padma Awards Selection Committee constituted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In 2019, on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga, Dr. Nagendra and Bhandari, were honored with the “Yoga Ratna” Award at a special ceremony held in the British Parliament. The award was presented by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Indian Traditional Sciences in recognition of their contributions toward the promotion of yoga and Indian traditional knowledge systems in London.

Prior to the Times Square event, RANA New York, BRUHUD NY Seniors, and Jaipur Foot USA will hold special sessions on yoga, health, and wellness from June 12–14, 2026, at the YO1 Longevity & Health Resorts in New York.

These sessions will be addressed by Dr. H. R. Nagendra, Dr. N. K. Manjunath, world-renowned interventional cardiologist and Ellis Island awardee Dr. Samin Sharma, Dr. Raj Bansal, founder of one of the largest ACO organizations in the United States, and Ellis Island awardee Dr. Rekha Bhandari, Chief Medical Officer of one of America’s leading nursing home networks.

On June 22, 2026, the Consulate General of India, New York, in collaboration with RANA New York, BRUHUD NY Seniors, and Jaipur Foot USA, will host a special lecture by Dr. Nagendra.

Best wishes for the series of yoga events were extended by high-profile individuals including former Judge of the International Court of Justice, Dr. Dalveer Bhandari, former Foreign Secretary of India, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and former Member of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Gyaneshwar Muley.
Bhandari said the visit would further strengthen awareness of yoga, health, spirituality, and India’s ancient knowledge traditions among the Indian community and American society. He added that for more than a decade, RANA New York, BRUHUD NY Seniors, and Jaipur Foot USA have been actively promoting yoga at the United Nations Headquarters, Capitol Hill, Times Square, and various community platforms.