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Visakhapatnam, June 21, 2025 — PM Modi led the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations from the pristine shores of RK Beach, Visakhapatnam, marking the largest-ever gathering for Yoga Day in India. Over 3 lakh participants joined the Prime Minister in performing yoga across a 26-kilometre stretch, transforming Andhra Pradesh’s coastal city into a global epicentre of wellness and unity.
Organized under the theme “Yoga for Self and Society“, this year’s celebrations aimed to highlight yoga’s power to promote mental peace, physical health, and social harmony amid increasing global tension and unrest.
“Yoga is the Pause Button Humanity Needs”: PM Modi
Addressing the massive crowd gathered on the beach, PM Modi emphasized the transformative power of yoga, calling it the “pause button humanity needs.”
“In today’s world of stress, strife and violence, yoga gives the world a direction of peace. It is the pause button that every individual and the world needs to reconnect with oneself,” said the Prime Minister.
PM Modi further noted that yoga is no longer limited to mats or studios. It is being practiced by the Divyang community in Braille, by soldiers guarding the borders, by scientists aboard space stations, and even atop the Himalayas and aboard Indian Navy ships.
Read Also: Yoga Day 2025: PM Modi Leads ‘Yoga for Humanity 2.0’ from Visakhapatnam
He urged people across the globe to adopt yoga as a part of their daily lifestyle and envisioned the launch of “Yoga for Humanity 2.0”, where yoga becomes a guiding principle not only for personal well-being but also for global policymaking.
Grand Coastal Corridor Transformed for Yoga
The 26-km coastal corridor between the Naval Coastal Battery and Bheemili was turned into a massive yoga venue, featuring 330 yoga zones, each managed by trained instructors and volunteers. Over 2.17 crore citizens from across Andhra Pradesh participated in related events throughout the month under the state’s “YogaAndhra” initiative.
The government deployed over 10,000 police personnel, 4,280 mobile toilets, Wi-Fi zones, LED screens, drinking water stations, and medical camps to ensure seamless execution of the mega event.
To facilitate maximum attendance, the state postponed all major exams originally scheduled for June 20–21 to July, showing unprecedented administrative support for a public wellness movement.
Naval and Maritime Yoga Display Steals the Show
Adding a unique dimension to the event, more than 600 Indian Navy and Coast Guard personnel performed yoga aboard six naval ships and two Coast Guard vessels stationed just off the RK Beach coast.
The visual spectacle of uniformed officers performing asanas at sea reinforced India’s growing effort to promote yoga as not just a health practice but a symbol of national unity and discipline.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Naval Command also coordinated large-scale yoga demonstrations at multiple coastal points in and around Visakhapatnam.
A Cultural and Global Celebration
The event in Visakhapatnam was broadcast live across the globe, showcasing India’s cultural leadership in promoting wellness diplomacy. Cultural performances by tribal artists and yoga-inspired dance sequences were featured throughout the day. Aerial displays and drone shows illustrated the journey of yoga through history.
Several global leaders, yoga influencers, and international organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations sent messages of support.
In 2014, PM Modi proposed celebrating International Day of Yoga at the United Nations General Assembly, and it was adopted by a record 177 member countries—a testament to yoga’s worldwide resonance.
Andhra Pradesh Positions Itself as a Global Wellness Hub
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, present at the event, praised PM Modi for choosing Visakhapatnam as the host city, saying it reflects AP’s readiness to lead in holistic health, sustainability, and spiritual tourism.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan highlighted the government’s plan to integrate yoga and meditation into school curricula as part of the “Swarna Andhra @2047” vision—aiming to build a state of health-conscious, emotionally resilient citizens.
Read Also: Yoga Day 2025: Thousands Join Celebrations Across China to Embrace Wellness and Harmony
Impact Beyond the Mat
Yoga, once perceived as an ancient Indian tradition, is now an international wellness revolution. Over the past decade, more than 190 countries have held Yoga Day events, with sessions conducted in mountains, deserts, universities, prisons, and corporate boardrooms.
Global studies have shown yoga to be effective in reducing anxiety, chronic pain, and cardiovascular issues—making it a key recommendation by health organizations worldwide.
The Road Ahead
The success of Yoga Day 2025 has set a high benchmark. With India entering its Amrit Kaal, the integration of yoga into policy, education, and urban planning is expected to gain pace.
From digital yoga apps to Ayush centers and from workplace wellness programs to tourism development, yoga is poised to become a pillar of India’s soft power and global outreach.
As PM Modi aptly concluded:
“Yoga is not just about bending the body, but about uniting the world.”
Key Highlights:
- 3 lakh+ people performed yoga across 26 km in Visakhapatnam
- PM Modi launched “Yoga for Humanity 2.0”
- 600 Navy & Coast Guard personnel performed yoga at sea
- Andhra Pradesh mobilized 2.17 crore citizens under YogaAndhra
- Largest-ever coastal yoga corridor with over 300 yoga zones
- Live international broadcast, drone shows, and cultural performances
