How Did PM Modi Lead a Global Yoga Celebration from Visakhapatnam?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Over 300,000 participants in Visakhapatnam for the yoga celebration.
- Record-breaking event recognized by Guinness World Records.
- The theme was “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.”
- Inclusivity highlighted by the participation of differently-abled individuals.
- Yoga sessions held in 180+ countries globally.
New Delhi, June 22 (NationPress) The 11th International Day of Yoga was celebrated with great enthusiasm, emphasizing India’s spiritual legacy and its role as a global leader, with Visakhapatnam serving as the focal point.
Under the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” the event saw an astounding turnout of over three lakh participants performing yoga along a 28-km route from R.K. Beach to Bhogapuram, securing a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spearheaded the celebrations, referred to the event as “India’s dialogue with the soul and collective meditation with the world.”
In his address, he stated: “Yoga fosters efficiency in all endeavors. It transcends mere practice, serving as a pathway to both inner and outer tranquility.”
He urged the global community to adopt yoga not only as a personal practice but as a collective duty towards the health of humanity.
On Sunday, he shared a brief film by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting highlighting how the world has embraced yoga, a positive indication that people globally yearn for peace.
Participation levels were unprecedented; in Andhra Pradesh alone, over two crore individuals engaged in the “Yogandhra Abhiyan.”
Among them, 22,000 tribal students successfully completed 22 cycles of Surya Namaskar, earning recognition in the Guinness World Records.
Gujarat also made headlines, with 2,121 participants performing Bhujangasana in unison.
From the snow-capped mountains of Ladakh to the southern beaches of Kanyakumari, and from the arid deserts in the west to the hills in the northeast, yoga resonated across the length and breadth of India.
The armed forces, police units, schools, and community organizations participated in coordinated sessions, transforming the day into a nationwide movement.
Individuals with disabilities also took part in significant numbers, sending a strong message of inclusion and resilience. The international response was equally robust.
Yoga sessions occurred in over 180 nations, reaffirming its universal appeal.
“Yoga is India’s gift to the world—a message of peace, health, and harmony,” stated Prime Minister Modi.
It’s noteworthy that Prime Minister Modi had proposed the recognition of June 21 as International Yoga Day to the United Nations in 2014, which was adopted within 90 days with support from 177 countries—one of the swiftest resolutions in UN history.
“Yoga is not a religion,” he emphasized. “It is the art of living. Let this day symbolize the commencement of Yoga for Humanity 2.0, where inner peace becomes a global objective.”
As dawn broke over the Bay of Bengal, Visakhapatnam stood as a shining embodiment of unity, wellness, and India’s rich cultural heritage—one breath, one posture, and one world at a time, offered to the globe.