Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended warm greetings to people across the globe on the occasion of the 11th International Yoga Day, highlighting the global embrace of the ancient Indian discipline. PM Modi emphasised on the importance of Yoga and how it brings peace in a tumultuous time.
He said, "Unfortunately today the whole world is going through some kind of stress. Unrest and instability is increasing in many areas. In such a situation, yoga gives us direction to peace"
Speaking on the significance of the day, PM Modi said, “I extend my greetings to the people from across the world on this occasion of International Yoga Day. Today, the entire world is performing Yoga. Yoga simply means to add, and it is an immense pleasure to see how Yoga has connected the entire world.”
Yoga: For One Earth, One Health
This year’s theme 'Yoga For One Earth, For One Health' highlights the deep interconnection between all living beings and the planet, PM Modi stated. “The health of every entity on Earth is interconnected. Human well-being depends on the health of the soil that grows our food, the rivers that give us water, the health of the animals that share our ecosystems, and the plants that nourish us.”
He noted that yoga doesn’t just improve physical and mental well-being but also enhances awareness of this environmental and ecological balance. “Yoga awakens us to this interconnectedness and teaches us that we are not isolated individuals but part of nature,” he said.
Simple meaning of yoga is to join: PM Modi
Noting the event as a moment of global unity, the Prime Minister noted how millions around the world are embracing Yoga as a part of their daily routine, transcending boundaries of nation, language, and culture. "The simple meaning of yoga is to join," he reiterated, underlining its universal appeal.
Public events, workshops, and mass Yoga sessions were held across India and in several countries around the world to commemorate the occasion, reinforcing the theme of wellness and collective harmony.
Observed annually on June 21, International Yoga Day is now in its 11th year since being adopted by the United Nations in 2014, following a proposal by India. The day celebrates the practice of Yoga as a powerful tool for physical and mental well-being.
Yoga for everyone: Beyond boundaries and barriers
Calling for a new chapter in the global yoga movement, PM Modi urged the world to usher in "Yoga for Humanity 2.0" where inner peace becomes global policy. “Yoga is for everyone beyond boundaries, backgrounds, age or ability,” he affirmed.
He expressed pride in seeing differently-abled individuals (Divyang) learning Yoga Shastras in Braille, scientists practicing yoga in space, and youth participating in Yoga Olympiads in villages. “An excellent yoga program is being performed on all Navy ships,” he added, reinforcing the widespread and inclusive nature of the practice.
Yoga’s global embrace: A decade of unity and practice
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the International Yoga Day celebrations in Visakhapatnam, highlighted how yoga has transformed from an ancient Indian tradition into a global lifestyle. “After 11 years, we can now see that yoga has become a part of the lifestyle of crores of people around the world,” he said.
Reflecting on India’s proposal to the United Nations in 2014, he said, “When India proposed June 21 to be celebrated as International Yoga Day, in a short time 175 countries accepted it. This unity and support in today’s world is not a normal incident.”
From the Sydney Opera House to the peak of Mount Everest, and even to the depths of the sea, Modi said the same message resonates across the globe: “Yoga is for everyone and belongs to all.”