PM Modi Urges 'Inner Peace as Global Policy' on International Yoga Day
Addressing the 11th International Yoga Day in Visakhapatnam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for yoga to inspire a shift where "inner peace becomes global policy." He highlighted yoga's journey from a personal discipline to a global wellness movement, uniting millions across 175 countries. Modi emphasized yoga's power to foster oneness and provide humanity with a "pause button" for balance amidst global tensions.
Unpacked:
International Yoga Day was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states at the United Nations. The first celebration was held in 2015, and it has since become a global event, observed every year on June 21 in over 175 countries, highlighting yoga's universal appeal and India’s cultural diplomacy.
International Yoga Day has set multiple world records, including mass participation events such as over 100,000 people in Kota (2018), and a Guinness World Record at the UN Headquarters in 2023 for participation by over 135 nationalities. Large-scale gatherings and unique initiatives like the ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’ have also marked its global impact.
Prime Minister Modi has led International Yoga Day events in various locations, including India and the United Nations Headquarters, and consistently highlighted yoga’s benefits for body, mind, and society. His advocacy has driven widespread participation and international recognition for yoga as a tool for health, peace, and unity.
Modi frames yoga as a means to foster personal well-being and collective harmony, suggesting that cultivating inner peace can help address global tensions. By advocating for yoga as a global policy, he promotes it as a solution for both individual stress and broader societal challenges, aiming for a more balanced and peaceful world.