PM Modi Leads 11th International Yoga Day Celebrations in Visakhapatnam

On the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY), Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi led the grand celebration from the coastal city of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, calling upon the world to embrace yoga not just as a personal discipline but as a global force for peace, unity, and well-being. Addressing thousands gathered at the beachfront and millions joining across the world, the Prime Minister marked the occasion with a powerful message: “Yoga is for everyone—beyond boundaries, backgrounds, age, or ability.”

Yoga: A Uniting Force Beyond Borders

In his address, PM Modi extended warm greetings to citizens of India and the world, highlighting the deep significance of this year’s celebration—the 11th global observance since the United Nations recognized India’s proposal in 2014. Reflecting on yoga’s transformative journey, he noted how an overwhelming 175 countries supported the original resolution—a rare symbol of global unity.

“Yoga unites. That is its essence. From the steps of the Sydney Opera House to the summit of Mount Everest, yoga resonates with the same spirit,” said the Prime Minister. He emphasized that yoga, once considered a niche practice, is now a mainstream global phenomenon with practitioners across continents, including Divyang individuals reading yogic texts in Braille and scientists practicing yoga in space.

A Visionary Theme: “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”

The 2025 International Day of Yoga theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” formed the heart of Prime Minister Modi’s address. He emphasized yoga’s power to reveal the deep connection between human health and the environment. “Our well-being is tied to the soil, water, animals, and plants. Yoga guides us from self-care to caring for the planet,” he remarked.

The Prime Minister drew parallels between yoga’s transformative potential and India’s core philosophy of “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah” (May all be happy), urging a shift from “Me to We.” He called yoga a path from self-interest to collective welfare, fostering harmony and coexistence in a world rife with stress and unrest.

Honouring Local Leadership and People’s Participation

Prime Minister Modi lauded the people of Visakhapatnam for their exemplary hosting of the grand Yoga Day event and appreciated the leadership of Andhra Pradesh—particularly Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan—for championing yoga through the Yogandhra Abhiyan. He gave special acknowledgment to Shri Nara Lokesh for spearheading a month-long grassroots campaign that turned yoga into a mass movement, engaging over two crore participants.

“The real foundation of a Viksit Bharat lies in such active public participation,” said the Prime Minister, noting the enthusiastic involvement visible across Visakhapatnam and nationwide.

From Personal Practice to Global Policy

Taking the idea further, Shri Modi proposed a new global initiative: “Yoga for Humanity 2.0”. He urged world leaders to adopt yoga not only in personal lives but in public policy frameworks. “Let this Yoga Day be the beginning of a global journey where Inner Peace becomes Global Policy,” he said.

The Prime Minister called on every society to incorporate yoga into their health and education systems. “Yoga must guide us from conflict to cooperation, from stress to solutions,” he added.

Promoting Scientific Yoga and Holistic Wellness

PM Modi underlined India’s push to strengthen yoga’s scientific foundation. Institutions like AIIMS, New Delhi, are conducting extensive research validating yoga’s efficacy in treating cardiac, neurological, and women’s health issues. He also spotlighted the National Ayush Mission, Yoga Certification Board, and the Common Yoga Protocol—which together form the core of India’s holistic wellness ecosystem.

To amplify global impact, the Prime Minister announced the introduction of special e-Ayush visas to promote India’s growing stature as a healing hub, echoing the international popularity of the “Heal in India” initiative.

Technology & Awareness for Mass Reach

Digital platforms have amplified yoga’s reach like never before. The Yoga Portal and YogAndhra Portal alone have registered over 1 million events, reflecting a massive scale of engagement across India. The inclusion of a 10-day yoga module in medical colleges, and deployment of trained yoga professionals to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, further illustrates the integration of yoga into mainstream healthcare.

Modi also reiterated his earlier campaign against obesity and unhealthy eating habits, urging people worldwide to reduce oil consumption by 10% and adopt yoga as a foundation for long-term wellness.

Yoga as a Jan Andolan

In his concluding remarks, the Prime Minister passionately urged everyone to transform yoga into a jan andolan—a true people’s movement. He said, “Let each day begin with yoga, bringing inner balance that radiates into society.” He added, “Let ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’ become a global mission, and yoga the unifying thread that weaves humanity into wellness and peace.”

A Grand Celebration of Harmony

The beachfront yoga session in Visakhapatnam drew over 5 lakh participants, forming a grand spectacle of collective harmony. Nationwide, yoga sangam events were simultaneously held at more than 3.5 lakh locations, bolstered by contests like Yoga with Family and Yoga Unplugged, engaging youth on platforms like MyGov and MyBharat.

Since the inception of IDY in 2015, PM Modi has led global celebrations from various iconic locations—from Delhi and Chandigarh to New York and Srinagar. With each passing year, International Yoga Day continues to evolve into a powerful global health movement grounded in ancient Indian wisdom yet adapted for contemporary global relevance.