In just over a month, Lokesh has shown how yoga can be made a true social celebration involving all sections of society. His efforts deserve national applause Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India

kiranmai tutika I amaravati

In a powerful display of unity, wellness, and cultural pride, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh led the grand 11th International Yoga Day celebrations in Visakhapatnam's RK Beach on Saturday morning. The event, themed “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” attracted over five lakh participants, making it one of the largest mass yoga gatherings in the world.

Held across a stunning 26-kilometre stretch from RK Beach to Bhogapuram, the celebration marked the culmination of the Yogandhra Abhiyan—a month-long mass movement initiated by the Andhra Pradesh government that engaged a staggering 2.17 crore citizens across 26 districts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined thousands on the sands of Vizag at dawn, leading the Common Yoga Protocol to promote physical and mental well-being. Recalling India’s proposal at the United Nations to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day, Modi said it received support from 175 countries in record time — a rare and collective affirmation by the world for humanity’s well-being.

“Today, 11 years later, yoga has become part of the lifestyle of millions worldwide,” he said, citing examples of visually impaired individuals studying yoga texts in Braille, scientists practicing yoga in space, and youth participating in yoga Olympiads. “From the steps of the Sydney Opera House to the summit of Everest, the message is clear — yoga is for everyone.”

Modi showered praise on Andhra Pradesh’s “Yogandhra Abhiyan,” describing it as a model for community-led wellness movements. He commended Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan for their leadership and reserved special praise for HRD Minister Nara Lokesh. “In just over a month, Lokesh has shown how yoga can be made a true social celebration involving all sections of society. 

His efforts deserve national applause,” Modi said.

Emphasizing this year’s theme — Yoga for One Earth, One Health — Modi described yoga as a tool to understand the interconnectedness of all life. “The health of humans is tied to the health of our soil, rivers, animals, and plants. Yoga awakens this awareness,” he said. As the world grapples with stress and instability, Modi called yoga “humanity’s pause button,” enabling individuals to breathe, rebalance, and restore harmony that would mark the beginning of "Yoga 2.0" — a new phase where yoga becomes a global way of life, fostering peace, health, and oneness.

Calling the event a “historic milestone for Visakhapatnam and the state of Andhra Pradesh,” Chief Minister Naidu highlighted how yoga had transitioned from a niche practice to a statewide movement. “From villages to cities, yoga has become a part of daily life here. We trained and deployed 1.44 lakh yoga instructors, prepared 1.3 lakh venues, and distributed lakhs of mats and t-shirts to make yoga accessible to everyone,” Naidu said.

The Chief Minister credited the success of the campaign to widespread public participation and institutional support. “This is not just a health movement—it is a social revolution,” he said, announcing future plans to integrate yoga into school curricula and rural community centers.

HRD Minister Lokesh echoed Modi’s and Naidu’s sentiments, stressing yoga’s universal appeal. “Yoga is not just for the elite or the urban—it belongs to everyone,” he said. Lokesh pointed to the enthusiastic participation of tribal communities, differently-abled individuals, students, and over 11,000 members of the Eastern Naval Command, calling it a celebration of diversity and health.

Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan addressed the gathering calling yoga “a gift to the modern world facing stress and chaos.” He said, “Yoga gives us resilience—not just physical strength but the mental stability needed to face life’s challenges. In today’s world, that’s invaluable.”

With an estimated five lakh participants, the Vizag celebration is being hailed as one of the largest-ever yoga gatherings, breaking global records. International media, foreign dignitaries, and UN wellness observers also attended the event.