International Day Of Yoga: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations on Saturday, describing yoga as a timeless gift that transcends barriers and brings humanity together in health and harmony.
The event unfolded against the picturesque backdrop of Visakhapatnam’s coastline, as Indian Navy ships stationed nearby added ceremonial grandeur to the occasion.
The Prime Minister commended the Andhra Pradesh government’s efforts, offering praise to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan for organising the event.
He called their leadership ‘inspiring’ and described the state’s role in promoting yoga as ‘commendable’.
‘Yoga is for everyone’: PM Modi
While addressing the gathering, PM Modi stated, “Yoga is for everyone beyond boundaries, beyond backgrounds, beyond age or physical ability. It is a universal gift that unites humanity in health, harmony, and consciousness. Friends, I am truly grateful that we are here in Visakhapatnam, a city that beautifully blends nature with progress. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Chandrababu Naidu Garu and Pawan Kalyan for hosting such a wonderful event under your inspiring leadership. It is commendable that the state of Andhra Pradesh has taken this meaningful initiative to promote yoga.”
Over 300,000 participants joined in the mass yoga session, reinforcing the theme that yoga belongs to all and has the power to unite the world.
The Prime Minister, however, recalled India’s initiative at the United Nations in 2014, which led to the recognition of 21 June as International Yoga Day.
“I remember when India proposed to the United Nations that June 21st be celebrated as International Yoga Day. Remarkably, in a very short span of time, 175 countries came forward to support this initiative. Such unity and overwhelming global support were truly extraordinary. This was not just about agreeing to a proposal; a collective step taken for the betterment of humanity. It reflected a shared vision for a healthier, more conscious world. Today, in 2025, we can proudly see that yoga has become an integral part of many people’s lives across the globe,” the Prime Minister noted.
Yoga belongs to all, says PM Modi
PM Modi also emphasised how yoga has now become a global practice that symbolises peace and well-being, seen everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to the Himalayas and across oceans.
“Be it the steps of the Sydney Opera House, the peaks of Everest, or the expanse of the ocean. The message everywhere is the same – Yoga belongs to all and is for all,” PM Modi added.
Reflecting on the past decade, Prime Minister Modi said the adoption of yoga by the world was not just symbolic but represented a shared global commitment to improving human life.
“When I look back at the journey of yoga over the past decade, I remember many things. That day, when India proposed in the United Nations that 21st June be recognised as International Yoga Day, and then in the shortest possible time, 175 countries of the world stood with our proposal. Such solidarity, such support, is not a common occurrence in today’s world. This was not just support for a proposal, it was a collective effort of the world for the welfare of humanity,” the Prime Minister said.
At the start of his speech, the Prime Minister extended greetings to people worldwide.
“Happy International Yoga Day to all the people across the country and the world. Today, for the 11th time, the whole world is doing Yoga together on 21st June. The simple meaning of yoga is to join. And it is wonderful to see how Yoga has connected the whole world,” he further remarked.
JP Nadda highlights spiritual meaning of Yoga
In New Delhi, BJP national president JP Nadda also participated in the celebrations, emphasising that yoga is more than a physical activity—it is a path to deeper consciousness through practices like meditation.
“Yoga is not merely a physical exercise. For many, it holds a much deeper meaning. It is a path through which we strive to connect with our inner consciousness, often through practices like meditation. The word ‘Yoga’ itself means ‘to unite’ or ‘to sum up’, symbolising the union of body, mind, and spirit. It is not only a physical discipline but also a profound mental and spiritual practice,” Nadda remarked.
PM Modi credited for globalising Yoga
He further credited Prime Minister Modi for elevating yoga on the global stage.
“In December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared that June 21 will be celebrated as International Yoga Day every year. The United Nations unanimously passed the proposal put forward by the Honourable Prime Minister, leading to the celebration of International Yoga Day starting in 2015,” Nadda stated.
He further added, “I would like to congratulate all of you on the occasion of International Yoga Day. As you know, our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, proposed the observance of an International Day of Yoga at the United Nations. With overwhelming support, the UN passed the resolution, and since June 21, 2015, the world has been celebrating International Yoga Day. It has now been 10 years, and we are stepping into the 11th year of this global celebration. Over the past decade, we have witnessed how the world has embraced and accepted yoga as a powerful practice for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.”
“We all know that the idea of Yoga Day and celebrating Yoga Day all over the world was started by our respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji in 2014. In 2014, he said in the United Nations General Assembly that Yoga Day should be celebrated, and more than 170 countries supported it,” the Minister added.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also marked the occasion by performing yoga at Pusa’s Kishan Mela Ground in New Delhi, joining citizens across the nation in observing the day.
The 11th International Day of Yoga witnessed large-scale participation in states across the country, celebrating yoga’s growing global presence and unifying spirit.
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