Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced on Wednesday that the state will host an unprecedented celebration of International Yoga Day on June 21, with over five lakh participants in Visakhapatnam and nearly two crore people expected to take part statewide.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the grand event in the port city, making Andhra Pradesh the epicenter of this year’s global yoga celebrations. Speaking to the press from his residence in Undavalli, Naidu described the upcoming event as a historic milestone and a transformative chapter for the state.
“Yoga is India’s timeless gift to the world,” Naidu said. “While it has always been part of our heritage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave it global recognition. Now, Andhra Pradesh will demonstrate its commitment to this ancient practice on an unprecedented scale.”
To build momentum ahead of the event, the state government will organize daily yoga sessions in schools, integrate yoga into the school curriculum, and conduct a door-to-door awareness campaign. Competitions will also be held, with winners granted front-row participation during the main event in Visakhapatnam.
Naidu urged citizens to use their talents—whether in music, art, or writing—to creatively promote yoga. He also appealed to both print and electronic media to provide daily coverage and factual content on the benefits of yoga.
A state-level apex committee will be formed to oversee preparations, with local committees extending to the village level. The Chief Minister emphasized that thousands of participants will gather along Vizag’s coastline, from RK Beach stretching for several kilometers.
“Yoga has no substitute when it comes to stress relief,” Naidu said, highlighting its health benefits and advocating for yoga to become a lifelong practice. The state also plans to engage global certifying bodies like the Guinness World Records to validate its record-setting efforts.
In a move to streamline participation, Naidu launched a dedicated mobile app for yoga day registrations, reinforcing the state’s commitment to blending tradition with technology.
“Andhra Pradesh will be a trendsetter,” he concluded. “We are not just celebrating Yoga Day; we are creating a proof of concept for the nation and the world.”
