International Day of Yoga: Yoga is the pause button humanity needs to become whole again, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday  led the celebrations of International Yoga Day and took part in the Yoga session in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

While address the 11th International Day of Yoga (IYD) event, PM Modi said that this year marks the 11th occasion when the world has come together on 21st June to practice yoga collectively. He remarked that the essence of yoga is "to unite", and it is heartening to see how yoga has united the world.

Reflecting on the journey of Yoga over the past decade, PM  Modi recalled the moment when India proposed the idea of International Yoga Day at the United Nations. He noted that 175 countries supported the proposal, a rare instance of such wide global unity.

“Eleven years on, yoga has become an integral part of the lifestyle of millions across the globe”, he added. The Prime Minister expressed pride in seeing how Divyang individuals are reading yogic texts in Braille and how scientists are practicing yoga in space. He also noted enthusiastic participation of youth from rural areas in Yoga Olympiads.

Underlining this year’s International Day of Yoga theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”, the Prime Minister remarked that the theme reflects a profound truth: the health of every entity on Earth is interconnected. Human well-being, he stated, depends on the health of the soil that produces our food, the rivers that supply our water, the animals that share our ecosystems, and the plants that nourish us.

Highlights Of What PM Said…

Yoga teaches us we are not isolated individuals but integral parts of nature. Initially, we learn to care for our own health and wellness, but gradually, this care expands to our environment, society, and the planet. Yoga is a profound personal discipline that, at the same time, serves as a collective system—one that transitions individuals from Me to We, the Prime Minister stated.

“The spirit of “Me to We” encapsulates the very soul of India”, said PM Modi, remarking that when an individual rises above self-interest and begins to think about society at large, the welfare of all humanity becomes possible.

PM Modi referred to Indian culture, stating that it teaches us the value of “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah”—the welfare of all is one’s sacred duty and this journey from ‘Me’ to ‘We’ forms the foundation of service, dedication, and coexistence.

“Yoga is the pause button humanity needs, to breathe, to balance, to become whole again”, he stated.

The Prime Minister made a special appeal to the global community on the occasion of International Yoga Day, urging, “let this Yoga Day mark the beginning of Yoga for Humanity 2.0, where Inner Peace becomes Global Policy”.