Visakhapatnam, June 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday led the 11th International Yoga Day celebrations in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, where an estimated 500,000 people participated in a mass yoga session along a 26-kilometre coastal stretch, making it one of the largest such events in recent memory.
The event, held under the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” drew participants from across the state and beyond, spanning from Ramakrishna Beach in Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram in neighbouring Vizianagaram district. Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and State IT Minister Nara Lokesh joined Modi in the yoga demonstration at RK Beach.
Addressing the gathering, Modi said yoga had evolved into a global movement for health, peace, and harmony. “After 11 years, yoga has become an integral part of life for crores of people around the world. It transcends boundaries and unites humanity across cultures and generations,” he said.
Modi recalled India’s proposal to the United Nations in 2014 to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day, which received backing from 175 countries. “Yoga is practiced from the Sydney Opera House to the peaks of Mount Everest,” he said, adding that it represents a holistic path to well-being, mental clarity, and spiritual strength.
The Prime Minister lauded the Andhra Pradesh government for its large-scale mobilisation and logistical arrangements. “Yoga is for everyone—regardless of place, background, age, or ability,” he noted.
Chief Minister Naidu praised Modi’s efforts in popularising yoga globally. “Yoga is now practiced in 175 countries and at 1.2 million locations. It plays a significant role in physical and mental health,” he said. He added that artificial intelligence was enhancing yoga’s accessibility and mentioned a new Guinness World Record set by 22,000 tribal students performing Surya Namaskar.
Naidu said that 144,000 yoga instructors have registered and become active under the state’s Yoga Andhra movement, which he described as both a mission and a cultural demonstration. He also announced the launch of the “Yoga Super League” to further promote the discipline.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said yoga had gained mass momentum under Modi’s leadership and called for collective efforts to uphold the spirit of One Earth, One Health. “Inspired by Modi ji, we will continue striving to bring pride to the Telugu people,” he said.
