PM Modi to Lead International Yoga Day Celebrations in Visakhapatnam Under ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’ Theme
New Delhi, India – Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lead the national celebrations for the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21, 2025, from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The event, themed “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” underscores India’s commitment to holistic well-being and environmental harmony, aligning with the “One Earth, One Family, One Future” vision previously highlighted during India’s G20 presidency.
International Yoga Day, an initiative proposed by Prime Minister Modi at the United Nations in 2014, has grown into a global phenomenon, with celebrations taking place in numerous countries worldwide. This year’s observance aims to be particularly expansive, with a multitude of events planned across India and globally.
Flagship Event: ‘Yoga Sangam’ in Visakhapatnam
The main event, ‘Yoga Sangam,’ will feature a synchronized mass yoga demonstration based on the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP). Prime Minister Modi will lead this flagship event in Visakhapatnam, where the Andhra Pradesh government is making elaborate arrangements for one of the largest yoga gatherings globally.
The event in Visakhapatnam is planned along a sprawling 26-kilometer corridor from RK Beach stretching up to Bhogapuram, aiming to accommodate over 3 lakh (300,000) participants performing yoga simultaneously. The state government is also mobilizing several lakh people for simultaneous yoga activities across the state, with an estimated two crore (20 million) registrations for Yoga Day activities nationwide already overshooting initial targets to 2.39 crores. Authorities are preparing 326 compartments, each with a capacity of 1,000 people, along with 3.32 lakh t-shirts and five lakh yoga mats for the participants. Over 3,000 buses are expected to ferry yoga enthusiasts to the venue.
Security arrangements are stringent for the Visakhapatnam event, with over 1,200 CCTV cameras and drones monitoring the stretch, and approximately 10,000 police personnel deployed for security duties. A high-tech police control room has been set up for coordination.
Nationwide Initiatives and Global Outreach
The Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, has rolled out 10 key signature initiatives for IDY 2025, designed to engage diverse groups and amplify the narrative of yoga’s benefits:
- Yoga Sangam: The synchronized mass yoga demonstration, led by PM Modi.
- Yoga Bandhan: Focused on fostering community engagement through yoga.
- Yoga Park: Initiatives to upgrade existing parks into dedicated wellness zones for daily yoga practice.
- Harit Yoga: Promoting environmental conservation through the medium of yoga.
- Yoga Samavesh: Catering to the unique needs of special groups, with tailored yoga protocols.
- Other initiatives include Yoga Prabhav, Yoga Connect, Yoga Unplugged (targeting youth), and Yoga Mahakumbh.
Globally, the Indian Army, in collaboration with Indian diplomatic missions and cultural centers, is commemorating International Yoga Day with fervent celebrations across various international locations. A grand event is also being organized at the UN headquarters (UNHQ) in New York by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta lauded Prime Minister Modi for gaining global recognition for Yoga Day, stating that “every country in the world is adopting Yoga with great affection today.” She announced plans to practice yoga on the banks of the Yamuna, with the Delhi government celebrating the day with great enthusiasm across many locations. Around 1,000 NCC cadets also performed yoga in Ahmedabad as part of the lead-up events.
The 11th International Day of Yoga is poised to be a significant global celebration, reinforcing yoga’s role in promoting physical, mental, and spiritual well-being for individuals and fostering a collective commitment to planetary health.