The 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY 2025) witnessed an unprecedented global celebration on June 21 with over 2,000 yoga events held across 191 countries, reinforcing yoga’s universal message of wellness, peace, and unity. Spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the initiative continues to emphasize India’s leadership in promoting holistic health and traditional wisdom on a global scale.
Domestically, the scale of engagement was massive, with 13.04 lakh yoga events registered across India through the Yoga Portal by June 20. This overwhelming response from people across regions showcased a deep-rooted commitment to the practice and its role in public well-being.
A landmark moment came from Visakhapatnam, where two Guinness World Records were set: the largest yoga gathering at a single venue with an astounding 3.02 lakh participants, and the largest mass Surya Namaskar demonstration, performed by 22,122 tribal students on June 20.
The Ministry of Ayush, in collaboration with various government departments and local administrations, conducted fifteen iconic yoga demonstrations at culturally and geographically significant locations throughout the country. These events were designed not only to highlight the richness of India’s heritage but also to connect the practice of yoga with national spirit and natural beauty.
Among the most challenging locations were the icy heights of the Siachen Glacier, where Indian Army personnel practiced yoga at the world’s highest battlefield. Other high-altitude sessions were held in the Galwan Valley, Rohtang Pass, and Sela Tunnel, with Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) staff participating under extreme conditions. In Jammu & Kashmir, yoga was performed on the Chenab Rail Bridge — the world’s highest railway bridge — blending engineering excellence with spiritual depth.
In the westernmost part of India, the Konark Corps of the Indian Army led a session in the Rann and Creek sector of Kutch, Gujarat. Meanwhile, India’s southernmost tip, Indira Point in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, saw yoga performed by personnel from the Andaman & Nicobar Command. Offshore yoga also made its mark, with ONGC personnel participating on an oil rig in the Arabian Sea. On the New Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu, railway officials, scouts, guides, and students came together to demonstrate the theme of connectedness and flow.
Spiritual and historical landmarks also hosted special sessions. The 91 UP Battalion of the NCC conducted yoga on the banks of the Ganga at NaMo Ghat in Varanasi, while the BSF Rajasthan Frontier held a culturally vibrant session at Kishangarh Fort in Jaisalmer. Youth athletes performed yoga in the picturesque meadows of Pahalgam and Sonmarg, Jammu & Kashmir, emphasizing harmony with nature. In a significant cross-border gesture, Indian pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Nathu La practiced yoga in Bainang County, Tibet Autonomous Region, symbolizing transnational spiritual unity.
In partnership with the Geological Survey of India, twelve yoga sessions were held at prominent Geological Heritage Sites known for their scientific, ecological, and cultural significance. These included locations like Rahioli Dinosaur Fossil Park in Gujarat, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters in Madhya Pradesh, and Arwah-Lumshynna Cave in Meghalaya, among others. These events underscored the deep connection between yoga and the Earth’s natural history, promoting the theme “Yoga for All, Yoga Everywhere.”
Through a Whole of Government approach, the Ministry of Ayush was able to orchestrate this vast celebration with the support of multiple ministries, state governments, educational institutions, the Indian Armed Forces, yoga organizations, NGOs, and millions of practitioners worldwide.
The Ministry expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to making IDY 2025 a historic global celebration of health, resilience, and unity, upholding yoga as not just a practice, but a living tradition that continues to inspire generations across continents.