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In pics: From J&K to New York, celebrations galore on International Yoga Day

In pics: From J&K to New York, celebrations galore on International Yoga Day

India Today4 hours ago

From New York to Tokyo, the world came together on June 21 to celebrate the 11th International Yoga Day. In India, people from various walks of life performed yoga. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the celebrations in Visakhapatnam with breathtaking views as captured by drone visuals, and with over 3 lakh participants joining the mass session.Follow live updates of International Yoga Day 2025 hereadvertisementThis year's theme is 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health'. In his address, PM Modi said yoga offers a direction of peace as the world witnesses unrest, tension and instability today. His remark was in reference to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, which spiralled into a global worry.
PM Modi performs yoga in Visakhapatnam. (Photo: PTI)
Indian Navy personnel also performed yoga on board an INS ship off the Visakhapatnam coast in Andhra Pradesh. More than 11,000 naval personnel and their family members from Eastern Naval Command participated in the grand morning yoga session with the Prime Minister.
Navy personnel perform yoga aboard an INS ship. (Photo: Screengrab/ANI video)
advertisementBollywood veteran Anupam Kher joined the yoga celebrations at iconic Times Square in New York city along with thousands.
Bollywood veteran Anupam Kher perform yoga at Times Sqaure in New York city. (Photo: @IndiainNewYork/X)
The Yoga Day celebrations were grand in Tokyo, with spouses of the Japanese PM and the country's Foreign Minister, respectively, present. Indian envoy Sibi George addressed the gathering of over 2,000 yoga enthusiasts.
Grand yoga celebrations in Tokyo. (Photo: @IndianEmbTokyo/X)
People also took part in Yoga Day celebrations in London organised by the High Commission of India.
Yoga celebrations in London. (Photo: PTI)
In Jammu and Kashmir, people performed yoga against the backdrop of an engineering marvel and the world's highest rail bridge - the Chenab Rail Bridge - which was opened weeks ago by PM Modi.
People perform yoga under the Chenab Rail Bridge in J&K. (Photo: Screengrab/ANI video)
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IN THIS STORY#Yoga Day#Narendra Modi#Japan#Anupam Kher#Om Birla#Yogi Adityanath#Rajnath Singh

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The strategic relevance of Yoga for global wellbeing Yoga, rooted in traditional Indian wisdom, offers a holistic approach to health by integrating body, mind, and spirit. Its global adoption addresses modern challenges like stress, lifestyle disorders, and mental health. As a preventive and promotive health practice, yoga aligns with global wellness goals, making it a strategic tool for fostering harmony, resilience, and sustainable well-being across cultures. According to a 2019 survey by Yoga Journal, over 36 million Americans practice yoga. This demographic spans policymakers, corporate leaders, educators, and artists — those who influence public discourse and steer institutional priorities. It includes individuals who are college-educated, liberal, and globally connected. Yoga has become an entry point to Indian culture and, by extension, to India's values, traditions, and worldview. 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