Global Observance Across 191 Nations. On June 21, 2025, India is leading the world in celebrating the 11th International Day of Yoga across 191 countries with over 2,000 events under the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.”One Earth, One Family, One Future" vision highlighted during its G20 presidency, the ICCR underlined.This year’s observance highlights not just physical and mental wellness but also the importance of global peace, sustainable health practices, and unity. the initiative includes 1,300+ international cities, reflecting the growing global influence of yoga as a cultural and diplomatic bridge. Even cities like Islamabad in Pakistan are hosting events, marking a significant milestone in yoga diplomacy.
India’s Grand Observance. The central event in India took place in Visakhapatnam, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi led thousands in the Common Yoga Protocol session. This flagship gathering was part of the "Yoga Sangam" initiative, which participation from more than 20 million people nationwide. In Andhra Pradesh alone, 25,000 tribal children performed 108 Surya Namaskars in 108 minutes, contributing to the creation of 23 world records, including entries in the Guinness Book. According to mint, the ICCR is also hosting 'Yoga Bandhan', a signature event of International Day of Yoga 2025, where 17 yoga gurus and practitioners from 15 countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Russia, China, South Africa, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore and South Korea, will lead the Yoga Day events across India, Singla said.Yoga Bandhan' seeks to "unite India and the world', the ICCR's DG said. To create awareness about IDY, we did various programmes to mark the 100-day countdown, 75-day countdown, 50-day countdown and 25-day countdown events. Globally, our embassies and consulates hosted special yoga events in the run-up to the IDY," she said. The celebrations extended to every corner of the country. Yoga sessions were organized in unique terrains such as Indian Navy ships and even the Siachen Glacier, symbolizing yoga's adaptability and universal relevance. In Lucknow University, a mega event aimed to set a record with 51,000 participants, while the Red Fort in Delhi hosted a flagship session with over 2,000 people coordinated by NDMC.
Special Initiatives & Community Engagement India’s Ministry of Ayush spearheaded several grassroots campaigns to boost engagement. These include: Yoga Bandhan: Featuring 17 international yoga gurus from 15 countries leading sessions at iconic heritage sites like Qutub Minar, Jantar Mantar, and Humayun’s Tomb, as well as cities like Jaipur and Varanasi. Harit Yoga: Promoting eco-friendly practices tied to yoga and environmental stewardship. Yoga Unplugged: Encouraging digital detox through yoga. Yoga with Family & Friends, and Yoga at Workplaces: To make yoga more accessible in daily life. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath conducted a special yoga session at Gorakhnath Temple, and the state launched new “Yoga Parks” to integrate the practice into daily community life.
Leadership Messages & Impact. In his message, PM Modi called for a new movement: “Yoga for Humanity 2.0”, emphasizing that inner peace should shape global policies. He stated that yoga is “beyond age, boundaries or abilities,” and highlighted its role as a “pause button” in today’s turbulent times. The Health Minister of India also encouraged citizens to adopt yoga as a daily lifestyle rather than just a symbolic activity for one day.The central message remained that yoga fosters holistic wellness, mental clarity, community bonding, and even ecological responsibility. It continues to serve as one of India’s most powerful soft power exports, bringing people together across cultures and borders under a shared banner of health and harmony. India’s unprecedented global coordination for International Yoga Day 2025 not only showcased yoga’s relevance in today’s world but also solidified its role as a unifying, healing force in an increasingly divided and stressed-out world.