Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing participants on the 11th International Yoga Day, emphasized that Yoga guides individuals on a path toward unity with the world. He highlighted that the International Yoga Day signifies the start of this ancient practice for humanity, where inner peace can become a global policy.
Modi recalled that when India proposed June 21st as International Yoga Day at the United Nations, 175 countries swiftly accepted. Eleven years later, he noted, Yoga has become integrated into the lives of millions globally. He asserted that “Yoga is for everyone,” transcending geographical boundaries like the Sydney Opera House, Mount Everest, or the vastness of the ocean.
Acknowledging global tensions, the Prime Minister urged the world to let this Yoga Day initiate “Yoga for humanity 2.0,” transforming inner peace into a worldwide policy. He reiterated that Yoga fosters a journey towards oneness with the world and is inclusive, extending “beyond boundaries, backgrounds, age or ability.” Modi described Yoga as a profound personal discipline and a system that shifts people from “Me to We,” serving as a crucial “pause button” for humanity to breathe, find balance, and become whole again. Following his address, the Prime Minister participated in a Yoga session with volunteers.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also spoke at the event, commending Prime Minister Modi for popularizing Yoga globally and transforming it into a worldwide wellness movement. Naidu pointed out that Yoga Day is celebrated in over 175 countries, across 1.2 million locations, with the participation of more than 100 million people. He extended his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for his vision in establishing International Yoga Day through the United Nations.
