Daijiworld Media Network – Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam, Jun 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 11th International Yoga Day celebrations in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam on Saturday, performing yoga alongside nearly 3 lakh participants. Against the serene backdrop of the Bay of Bengal and with Indian Navy ships stationed offshore, the event reflected both scale and symbolism.

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi described yoga as a vital antidote to global unrest. “Unfortunately, today the entire world is going through some tension, unrest, and instability. In such times, yoga gives us the direction of peace. It is the pause button that humanity needs to breathe, balance, and become whole again,” he said.

Reiterating the universality of yoga, the prime minister stated, “Yoga is for everyone — beyond boundaries, backgrounds, age, or physical ability. It is a universal gift that unites humanity in health, harmony, and consciousness.”

He recalled India's successful effort at the United Nations in 2014 to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day. “Remarkably, in a very short span of time, 175 countries came forward to support this initiative. This wasn’t just about agreeing to a proposal — it was a collective step for the betterment of humanity.”

Highlighting yoga’s global reach, PM Modi said, “From the steps of the Sydney Opera House to the peaks of Everest and even the vastness of the ocean, yoga has touched every corner of the world. Today, in 2025, we can proudly see that yoga has become an integral part of many people’s lives across the globe.”

The mega event in Visakhapatnam witnessed participation from all walks of life, with the Indian Navy playing host and providing a striking maritime backdrop to the celebrations.