NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday led the 11th International Yoga Day celebrations in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam, and pointing to global tensions, described yoga as an exercise which brings peace to mind.
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"Unfortunately, today the entire world is going through some tension, unrest, and instability have been increasing in many regions. 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," PM Modi said in the coastal city, where he later performed with around 3 lakh participants at a mass yoga session.
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Yoga, the prime minister added, goes beyond boundaries, backgrounds, age, and physical ability.
"Yoga is for everyone beyond boundaries, beyond backgrounds, beyond age or physical ability. It is a universal gift that unites humanity in health, harmony, and consciousness," he stated.
PM Modi also recalled India's initiative at the United Nations in 2014 to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day, a move which would receive wide global support in a short span of time.
"Remarkably, in a very short span of time, 175 countries came forward to support this initiative. Such unity and overwhelming global support was truly extraordinary. This was not just about agreeing to a proposal, it was a collective step taken for the betterment of humanity. It reflected a shared vision for a healthier, more conscious world. Today, in 2025, we can proudly see that yoga has become an integral part of many people's lives across the globe," the prime minister said.
Further, he highlighted how yoga has reached every corner of the planet - be it the steps of the Sydney Opera House, the peaks of Everest, or the expanse of the ocean.
The Yoga Day event took place against the scenic backdrop of the Visakhapatnam coastline, with Indian Navy ships stationed near the shore.
Click here for live updates
"Unfortunately, today the entire world is going through some tension, unrest, and instability have been increasing in many regions. 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," PM Modi said in the coastal city, where he later performed with around 3 lakh participants at a mass yoga session.
Also Read: Israel launches fresh attack on missile facilities in Iran; Tehran calls out 'betrayal to diplomacy' by US
Yoga, the prime minister added, goes beyond boundaries, backgrounds, age, and physical ability.
"Yoga is for everyone beyond boundaries, beyond backgrounds, beyond age or physical ability. It is a universal gift that unites humanity in health, harmony, and consciousness," he stated.
PM Modi also recalled India's initiative at the United Nations in 2014 to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day, a move which would receive wide global support in a short span of time.
"Remarkably, in a very short span of time, 175 countries came forward to support this initiative. Such unity and overwhelming global support was truly extraordinary. This was not just about agreeing to a proposal, it was a collective step taken for the betterment of humanity. It reflected a shared vision for a healthier, more conscious world. Today, in 2025, we can proudly see that yoga has become an integral part of many people's lives across the globe," the prime minister said.
Further, he highlighted how yoga has reached every corner of the planet - be it the steps of the Sydney Opera House, the peaks of Everest, or the expanse of the ocean.
The Yoga Day event took place against the scenic backdrop of the Visakhapatnam coastline, with Indian Navy ships stationed near the shore.
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