VISAKHAPATNAM, June 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that yoga leads people on a journey towards oneness with the world, and that the International Yoga Day marks the beginning of the ancient practice for humanity where inner peace becomes a global policy.

Addressing participants of the 11th International Yoga Day celebrations in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, PM Modi reflected on the global acceptance of yoga and India’s pivotal role in spreading its message. “When India proposed June 21 to be celebrated as International Yoga Day in the United Nations, in a short time 175 countries accepted it,” he noted.

Eleven years on, Yoga has become an integral part of the lives of crores of people across the globe. “Whether the Sydney Opera House or Everest mountain or the span of the ocean, the message is that Yoga is for everyone,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

Speaking amid a time of global unrest and tensions, Modi called upon the world to embrace yoga not just as a personal discipline but as a collective vision for peace. “My request to the world—let this Yoga Day mark the beginning of Yoga for Humanity 2.0 where inner peace becomes global policy,” he urged.

He elaborated on the inclusive nature of yoga, stating, “Yoga is for everyone, beyond boundaries, backgrounds, age or ability.” Highlighting the philosophy behind the practice, Modi said yoga is not only a tool for individual transformation but a powerful system that takes people from “Me to We.” He added, “Yoga is the pause button that humanity needs to breathe, balance, to become whole again.”

Following his address, the Prime Minister joined volunteers in performing yoga at the event, reinforcing his message with action.

Also speaking at the event, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu lauded Prime Minister Modi’s role in popularizing yoga not only within India but globally. “I am thanking our visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making Yoga popular not only in India (but also) across the world. He started International Yoga Day through the United Nations and made Yoga a global wellness movement,” Naidu said.

Naidu highlighted the scale and impact of the day’s celebrations, noting that Yoga Day is being observed in more than 175 countries, across 12 lakh locations, with participation from over 10 crore people worldwide.

The event in Visakhapatnam marked a significant moment in reaffirming yoga’s global appeal and its role in promoting peace, health, and unity across humanity.