Visakhapatnam: Against the majestic backdrop of the Bay of Bengal, as the first light of dawn shimmered across Visakhapatnam’s golden shores, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in celebrating the 11th International Day of Yoga. The national event—now recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest yoga gathering—brought together thousands of yoga enthusiasts from India and abroad in a spectacular display of unity, wellness, and spiritual discipline.
The event saw the presence of several dignitaries, including Andhra Pradesh Governor Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu, Union Minister of State for Ayush and Health & Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav, Union MoS Dr. Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and State Cabinet Minister Nara Lokesh.
Extending his greetings to citizens across the globe, Prime Minister Modi reflected on how far the International Day of Yoga has come since its inception in 2015. He recalled the historic moment at the United Nations when 175 nations supported India’s proposal to observe June 21 as Yoga Day, calling it an unprecedented example of global consensus for the greater good. “The spirit of yoga is to unite,” he said, noting how this ancient practice has brought people of all ages, backgrounds, and nations together.
The Prime Minister shared inspiring stories of inclusivity, from Divyang individuals reading yogic texts in Braille to scientists practicing yoga in space. “From the summit of Mount Everest to the steps of the Sydney Opera House, yoga echoes a universal message: yoga is for all,” he remarked.
Visibly impressed by the enthusiasm in Visakhapatnam, Modi lauded the Andhra Pradesh government for its meticulous planning and visionary leadership. He praised CM Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan for their role in launching the ‘Yogandhra Abhiyan,’ calling it a transformative initiative. Special appreciation was reserved for Nara Lokesh, whose grassroots mobilisation efforts turned yoga into a social movement, engaging more than two crore people across the state in the lead-up to June 21.
Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav, in his address, hailed Prime Minister Modi’s global vision, which has transformed yoga into an international health and wellness movement. He revealed that the Ministry of Ayush has launched 10 signature campaigns across the country this year, including ‘Harit Yoga,’ ‘Yoga Bandhan,’ and ‘Yoga Mahakumbh,’ involving over 10 lakh organisations nationwide.
Highlighting Andhra Pradesh’s record-breaking contributions, Jadhav announced that more than 22,000 tribal students in the state performed 12 rounds of Surya Namaskar in just 15 minutes—a feat that earned them a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
He also spoke about Ayush Ministry’s healthy food campaign, sharing that participants across 70 locations in Delhi received specially curated “Ayush Aahar” meals made from Moringa-based products to promote natural and nutritious food choices.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, addressing the gathering, expressed pride in Andhra Pradesh’s energetic participation in Yoga Day. He noted that the month-long Yogandhra campaign, culminating in the mass event at Visakhapatnam, attracted more than 3 lakh participants on the final day and over 2.17 crore participants overall. “This celebration marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to wellness and holistic living,” he said.
Across the nation, Union ministers joined the celebrations. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh participated in Udhampur, where he described yoga as a gift from ancient Indian sages that is now embraced worldwide. Home Minister Amit Shah joined the event in Ahmedabad, noting on social media that yoga has become a vital part of people’s daily lives by aligning the mind, body, and spirit.
