New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday led the 11th International Yoga Day celebrations in Visakhapatnam, calling yoga a much-needed anchor in a world grappling with growing unrest and instability. Addressing a massive gathering at the coastal city, Modi described yoga as a “pause button” that helps humanity reset, rebalance, and reconnect.
“The world today is facing tension and turmoil in many regions. In such times, yoga shows the path to peace,” the Prime Minister said. “It acts as a pause button—allowing us to breathe, find balance, and restore our sense of wholeness.”
Modi joined nearly 3 lakh participants in a large-scale yoga session along the picturesque Visakhapatnam coastline, with Indian Navy ships stationed offshore, adding a patriotic backdrop to the global event.
He emphasized yoga’s inclusive nature, saying it transcends barriers of nationality, age, background, or physical ability.
“Yoga is universal. It belongs to no one group or country—it’s for everyone, everywhere. It connects humanity through health, harmony, and heightened awareness,” he said.
Reflecting on India’s pivotal role in popularizing yoga globally, PM Modi recalled how India’s 2014 proposal at the United Nations to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day quickly garnered widespread international support.
“An extraordinary 175 countries backed the proposal in record time. This wasn’t just diplomatic consensus—it was a collective leap for global well-being,” he said.
Now, more than a decade later, Modi noted, yoga has embedded itself into the fabric of cultures around the world. “Whether on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, the heights of Everest, or the decks of naval ships in the ocean—yoga has reached every corner of the planet.”
He concluded by reinforcing yoga’s role as a guiding light in uncertain times, offering individuals and societies alike a way to reconnect with inner peace and global unity.
