Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday led the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations from Visakhapatnam, emphasising Yoga’s role in promoting peace amid growing global instability.
Addressing a large gathering in Visakhapatnam, Modi described as a “pause button that humanity needs to breathe, balance, and become whole again.” He added, “Yoga is a wonderful system that takes us from me to we,” highlighting its power to foster global unity.
He extended warm greetings to people across the globe on the occasion of the 11th International Yoga Day, highlighting the global embrace of the ancient Indian discipline. PM Modi emphasised on the importance of Yoga and how it brings peace in a tumultuous time.
“I extend my greetings to the people from across the world on this occasion of International Yoga Day. Today, the entire world is performing Yoga. Yoga simply means to add, and it is an immense pleasure to see how Yoga has connected the entire world,” he said.
He said, “Unfortunately today the whole world is going through some kind of stress. Unrest and instability is increasing in many areas. In such a situation, yoga gives us direction to peace”
This year’s theme ‘Yoga For One Earth, For One Health’ highlights the deep interconnection between all living beings and the planet, PM Modi stated. “The health of every entity on Earth is interconnected. Human well-being depends on the health of the soil that grows our food, the rivers that give us water, the health of the animals that share our ecosystems, and the plants that nourish us.”
He noted that yoga doesn’t just improve physical and mental well-being but also enhances awareness of this environmental and ecological balance. “Yoga awakens us to this interconnectedness and teaches us that we are not isolated individuals but part of nature,” he said.
“Yoga awakens us to this interconnectedness, leads us on a journey towards oneness with the world, and teaches us that we are not isolated individuals but part of nature,” PM Modi added.
Modi also reflected on Yoga’s global journey over the past decade, recalling the overwhelming international support India received when it proposed the idea of an International Day of Yoga.
According to the Ministry of AYUSH, the Prime Minister performed Yoga alongside over 3 lakh participants at the main venue, as part of the ‘Yoga Sangam’ initiative, which was synchronised with events at more than 10 lakh locations across the country.
The mass demonstration, held from 6:30 to 7:45 AM, saw participation from AP Governor Syed Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Union Ministers Ramamohan Naidu, Prataprao Jadhav Srinivas Varma and others.