Yoga as ‘Pause Button of Peace’: PM Modi Leads International Day Event from Visakhapatnam
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations on June 21 from Visakhapatnam, highlighting yoga as a global “pause button” amid rising global instability. Amid airstrikes, conflicts, and social tensions, he emphasised that yoga guides humanity from “me to we,” fostering unity and balance .
At the sprawling event along Visakhapatnam’s 26 km coastal corridor, over 3 lakh participants practised the Common Yoga Protocol alongside the PM, with 10 lakh-plus synchronized events across India and 2 crore participants nationwide .
Modi noted, “Sarve bhavantu sukhinah… in times of tension and unrest, yoga gives direction of peace” and deepened the theme, saying, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health reflects a deep truth: the health of every entity on Earth is interconnected” .
The celebrations included a grand showcase with Eastern Naval Command personnel—over 11,000 Navy members and families—performing yoga onshore and at sea . Visakhapatnam’s security apparatus included NSG commandos and 8,000 police in a three-tier system, ensuring smooth operations for the record-setting event .
Modi also reflected on yoga’s global journey since 2014 when he proposed the UN-backed International Day of Yoga—now observed in 175 countries. “Let this Yoga Day mark the beginning of Yoga for Humanity 2.0 where inner peace becomes global policy,” he said .
The day featured 10 signature events by the Ministry of Ayush like Yoga Bandhan, Yoga Unplugged, and city-wide programs stretching from the Red Fort to UNESCO heritage and coastal sites—underscoring yoga’s reach across demographics and geographies .
