Yoga sangam events were held simultaneously at more than 3.5 lakh locations across India on Saturday, 21 June.
Published Jun 21, 2025 | 12:14 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 21, 2025 | 12:14 PM
International Day of Yoga celebrations in Hyderabad (left) and Vishakhapatnam.
Synopsis: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the International Day of Yoga celebrations from Visakhapatnam, saying the philosophy of ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah’—the well-being of all—guides India’s approach to service, selflessness, and harmony.
The 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) was celebrated with grandeur and widespread participation on Saturday, 21 June, with major events held at the GMC Balayogi Sports Stadium in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, and on the beachfront in Visakhapatnam.
In Hyderabad, the event was jointly organised by the Department of AYUSH and the Telangana Medical and Health Department. The programme began with a yoga photo exhibition, followed by a virtual address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi broadcast on LED screens from 6:30 am to 7:00 am. A 45-minute mass yoga session was conducted from 7:00 am to 7:45 am.
Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha, Sports Minister Vakiti Srihari, Sports Authority Chairman Shivsena Reddy, Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao, along with several officials and students, participated in the event. More than 5,000 individuals performed yoga during the session.
Speaking on the occasion, Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha described yoga as a profound gift from India to the world. He urged participants to remember Maharishi Patanjali, who systematised yoga, and underscored the relevance of Ashtanga Yoga.
“Yoga is not just a physical exercise—it is a holistic practice that unites the body, mind, and soul,” he said.
The minister pointed out that yoga could help combat lifestyle-related ailments such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and kidney disorders, and encouraged regular practice. He highlighted initiatives under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s leadership, including the appointment of 630 yoga instructors and another 264 in progress, daily yoga sessions in health sub-centres, and the introduction of yoga education in schools and postgraduate courses in Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences.
“In the past year alone, we have introduced yoga to five lakh new individuals,” he noted.
గచ్చిబౌళి స్టేడియంలో అంతర్జాతీయ యోగా దినోత్సవ వేడుకలను ఆయుష, ఆరోగ్యశాఖలు ఘనంగా నిర్వహించాయి.
ఈ కార్యక్రమంలో గవర్నర్ జిష్ణుదేవ్ వర్మ, ఆరోగ్యశాఖ మంత్రి దామోదర రాజనర్సింహ, స్పోర్ట్స్ మినిస్టర్ వాకిటి శ్రీహరి, స్పోర్ట్స్ అథారిటీ చైర్మన్ శివసేన రెడ్డి, సీఎస్ రామకృష్ణారావు ఇతర… pic.twitter.com/NtdcrJ08F2
— Damodar Raja Narasimha (@DamodarCilarapu) June 21, 2025
Related: PM Modi leads international Yoga celebrations on idyllic Visakhapatnam beach
Larger celebration in Andhra Pradesh
In Visakhapatnam, Prime Minister Modi led the national IDY celebrations on the beachfront, joining nearly five lakh participants in the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) session. Yoga Sangam events were held simultaneously at over 3.5 lakh locations across India.
During his address, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction at witnessing visually impaired individuals reading yogic scriptures in Braille and scientists practicing yoga in space. He praised the participation of rural youth in Yoga Olympiads and stressed that “Yoga is for everyone and all, beyond boundaries, beyond backgrounds, beyond age or ability.”
Highlighting this year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” Modi explained the interconnectedness of human and planetary health.
“Yoga teaches us we are not isolated individuals but integral parts of nature,” he said. The theme, he added, echoes India’s philosophy of ‘Sarve Santu Niramaya” (May all be free from disease).
Modi reflected on the journey since the United Nations General Assembly adopted India’s proposal in 2015 to observe 21 June as International Day of Yoga. He recalled that 175 countries supported the proposal, showcasing rare global unity.
“Eleven years on, yoga has become an integral part of the lifestyle of millions across the globe,” he said.
Yoga leads us on a journey towards oneness with the world. pic.twitter.com/yE0mylnhWW
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 21, 2025
Modi lauded Andhra Pradesh’s Yogandhra Abhiyan, calling it a remarkable initiative under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan. He specifically appreciated Nara Lokesh’s efforts in making yoga a social celebration, noting that over two crore people have joined the initiative.
“The spirit of ‘Me to We’ encapsulates the very soul of India,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the philosophy of “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah”—the well-being of all—guides India’s approach to service, selflessness, and harmony.
He concluded by stating that enthusiastic citizen participation is the cornerstone of a Viksit Bharat, and that when people take ownership of a mission, no goal remains out of reach.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
