International Yoga Day 2025: A 11-Year Journey of Yoga from India to the World
From Delhi’s Rajpath to UN Headquarters: Tracing the Global Rise of Yoga
PM Modi Leads 2025 Celebrations from Visakhapatnam’s RK Beach
Yoga Becomes a Symbol of India’s Cultural Diplomacy
New Delhi: June 21, 2025
As the world marks the 11th International Yoga Day, yoga’s journey from ancient Indian tradition to global wellness movement stands as a testament to its universal appeal and India’s cultural outreach. International Yoga Day, now a globally recognized health movement, was launched in 2015 following a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. The resolution was adopted by the UN with overwhelming support, and since June 21, 2015, the day has been observed annually across the globe.
This year, PM Modi addressed the nation and the world from Ramakrishna Beach in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. He emphasized yoga’s role as a source of inner strength and peace, urging everyone to embrace it not just for physical health but for mental and emotional well-being as well.
A Decade-Long Global Journey of Yoga
2015: The first-ever International Yoga Day took place at Rajpath, New Delhi, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing 21 yoga postures alongside delegates from 84 nations. The event set two Guinness World Records—for the largest yoga class and the most nationalities participating in a single yoga session.
2016: The second celebration took place in Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex, with over 30,000 participants joining PM Modi in a grand public session.
2017: Lucknow’s Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan hosted the third edition, which saw the participation of Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, marking the growing integration of yoga into state-level celebrations.
2018: PM Modi led over 50,000 participants in a massive yoga event held at Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
2019: The fifth edition was celebrated at Prabhat Tara Ground in Ranchi, with more than 40,000 people in attendance.
2020 & 2021: The outbreak of COVID-19 led to International Yoga Day being observed through digital platforms. PM Modi encouraged citizens to continue practicing yoga at home, stressing its role in enhancing immunity and mental resilience.
2022: Post-pandemic, the first physical gathering took place at the Mysore Palace in Karnataka, where 15,000+ yoga practitioners joined the Prime Minister.
2023: The theme for the year was “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future.” PM Modi led a historic session at the United Nations Headquarters in New York with representatives from 135 countries, earning another spot in the Guinness World Records.
2024: In Srinagar, PM Modi led the largest-ever yoga gathering at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre, where 245.3 million people participated virtually and physically. This set yet another world record and reaffirmed India’s leadership in promoting wellness globally.
Yoga: India’s Global Cultural Symbol
Over the past 11 years, International Yoga Day has transformed yoga from a spiritual practice rooted in Indian tradition to a global movement for health and harmony. It now serves as a strong pillar of India’s cultural diplomacy, promoting physical wellness, mental peace, and social balance worldwide.
From UN recognition to mass participation across continents, yoga today stands not only as a form of exercise but as a unifying force a symbol of India’s soft power and ancient wisdom reshaping the modern world.
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