The International Day of Yoga, held annually on June 21, has evolved into a worldwide celebration of mindfulness, movement, and holistic health. Established by the United Nations in 2014, the day emphasizes yoga’s ancient Indian origins and its relevance in tackling modern health challenges.
This year, the 2025 theme — “Yoga for One Earth, One Health” — stressed the intrinsic link between individual wellness and global ecological balance. From bustling metros to serene coastlines, India came together to honour the spiritual and physical discipline that dates back thousands of years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his message, called yoga the much-needed “pause button” for a world engulfed in uncertainty. “Yoga is not just an exercise; it is a way to attain inner peace and contribute to global harmony,” he said.
Across the country, picturesque locations hosted spirited yoga gatherings. At Mumbai’s iconic Gateway of India, women in traditional Nauvari saris embraced mindfulness in synchrony. Visakhapatnam’s Beach Road offered an aerial spectacle of people flowing through postures with the sea as a calming backdrop.
The Indian armed forces showcased discipline and balance with about 500 personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force participating at Chennai’s INS Adyar naval base. Meanwhile, in Kerala’s Thripunithura, Student Police Cadets displayed calmness and precision during their yoga routines.
Notably, the day blended tradition with contemporary culture — in Hyderabad, members of the Telangana Chamber of Events Industry added energy with a zumba session, while a candid moment in Visakhapatnam captured a girl stealing a glance at her phone amidst the action.
While social media feeds lit up with yoga selfies and group shots, the underlying message remained strong: movement for the body, stillness for the mind, and balance for the Earth. The World Health Organization continues to endorse yoga as an effective means to reduce physical inactivity — a major contributor to diseases like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions.
From the lawns of the United Nations headquarters in New York to school grounds and city streets in India, the spirit of yoga reminded humanity of its shared responsibility: to breathe, bend, and belong — together.
