Operation Sindoor paused only after Pakistan's plea for ceasefire: Rajnath Singh
SRINAGAR: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Operation Sindoor was paused only after Pakistan's plea for ceasefire.
He said this on the occasion of International Yoga Day, where he was leading troops at Northern Command Headquarters in J&K's Udhampur.
Singh led the armed forces in celebrating the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) by performing various asanas and breathing exercises with about 2,500 soldiers at Northern Command, Udhampur.
The defence minister had arrived at the North Command headquarters yesterday evening.
While addressing the soldiers, the Defence Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for popularising yoga globally and highlighted that the practice provides a holistic approach to health & well-being.
Yoga, he said, is a universal solution to the problems faced by people in today's fast-paced world, such as stress, anxiety and depression. 'It is an art, a science, a philosophy, and spirituality. Those who practice Yoga in their daily lives have control over their body and mind. It makes us proactive, not reactive'.
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News18
35 minutes ago
- News18
'The Pause That Humanity Needs': PM Modi Leads The Way At International Yoga Day Event In Visakhapatnam
Last Updated: The prime minister emphasised that Yoga is not just a form of exercise, but a spiritual and physical discipline that helps individuals rejuvenate, heal, and attain balance in life On International Yoga Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a powerful message to the youth of India and to the young at heart in Visakhapatnam. 'It is my request to the world—let this Yoga Day mark the beginning of Yoga for humanity. When one finds inner peace, it becomes a global policy and movement," PM Modi said, addressing a massive gathering at a time when many parts of the world are embroiled in tension and conflict. The prime minister emphasised that Yoga is not just a form of exercise, but a spiritual and physical discipline that helps individuals rejuvenate, heal, and attain balance in life. This year's theme, Yoga for One Earth, One Health, was reflected in the sheer scale of participation: over three lakh people performed Yoga together along a 29-kilometre stretch from RK Beach to Bheemunipatnam, creating a spectacular scene of unity and purpose. 'Unfortunately, the world is going through instability and unrest. In such times, Yoga gives us direction. Yoga is the pause button that humanity needs—to breathe, balance, and become whole again," Modi said, as people filled rooftops, balconies, and the coastline, joining in synchrony with the prime minister. Participants called it not just inspirational but transformative to have the prime minister and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu—both Yoga practitioners themselves—lead from the front. 'They've shown how the health of the mind, body, and soul through yoga helps a nation grow", one attendee remarked. The buzz had been unmistakable in Visakhapatnam. Hoardings and banners across the city had invited citizens to join Yogandhra, Andhra Pradesh's own branding of the Yoga Day celebrations. From children to senior citizens, from first-timers to seasoned practitioners, all performed synchronised yoga postures in a coordinated show of unity and wellness. The event was rooted in the ancient Indian ethos—Sarve Santu Niramaya—a timeless call for health and freedom from disease for all. A doctor from Visakhapatnam who attended the event said: 'As a practising surgeon, I always advise my patients to take up Yoga. It brings inner peace, mindful thinking, and balance. Don't treat it as exercise; make it as essential as breathing. That's how deeply embedded it should be in our lives." Another young student, Shyamala, who had been preparing for the event for over a year, said she was inspired by the PM's push for a healthier lifestyle. 'Doing Yoga, guided by the PM himself — it's an honour. It's important for youngsters like us to make this a part of our daily lives," she said. The day saw two major world records being broken. The first was for the largest number of people performing Surya Namaskar in a single session—the previous record stood at 1,035 people. This was shattered by over 22,000 tribal schoolchildren, who performed the asanas in perfect synchrony. The feat has now entered the Guinness Book of World Records. The second record was for the largest Yoga session conducted at a single location. From RK Beach to Bheemli, the 29-km stretch turned into an open-air yoga mat for lakhs of participants—a display of dedication, discipline, and support for PM Modi's global advocacy of Yoga. A young professional who had travelled from Chittoor to take part in the event said it was about being part of history. 'I came not just to help break a world record, but to be part of a movement. Doing Yoga along the seashore while the world woke up to health and wellness—I wanted to be a part of that moment," he said. 'I was introduced to Yoga by my grandfather. He would be proud to see me doing yoga with PM Modi and Naidu-garu." Yoga as a Global Language As he led the International Yoga Day celebrations from RK Beach, PM Modi spoke of Yoga's universal appeal. 'Yoga leads us on a journey toward oneness with the world. I feel proud when our Divyang friends study Yoga Shastras in Braille. Scientists practice Yoga in space. Youth in villages participate in Yoga Olympiads. Yoga is being performed on Navy ships, on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, at the peak of Everest, and across the oceans. Yoga transcends boundaries, backgrounds, and abilities," he said. Recalling the origin of the celebration, he added, 'When India proposed the resolution at the UN General Assembly to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day, 175 countries supported it in record time. In today's divided world, that level of unity is extraordinary and deeply heartening." Digital Detox Naidu also addressed the gathering, calling for reduced digital dependency and a stronger focus on Yoga for health and well-being. 'Yoga is not only popular in India, but across the world. It has become a global wellness movement—and Andhra Pradesh is proud to show the way," he said. IT minister Nara Lokesh described Visakhapatnam's grand celebration a movement with purpose. 'Both the PM and CM gave a call, and people just came to participate. This has given a sense of purpose to all," he said. He also spoke of how trained trainers conducted thematic Yoga sessions for 30 days across 30 different themes. 'Every day, at three religious or tourist destinations, we held Yoga sessions. That was our way to showcase the kind of amazing tourist destinations we have—not just to India, but to the world." top videos View all Lokesh added, 'I'd like to thank the prime minister for giving Andhra this kind of opportunity to showcase our strength and spirit." Lokesh also echoed the PM's call to balance prakriti (nature) and pragati (progress), and added that people coming together in unity was the central to the idea of Yogandhra. About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is News Editor at with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Chandrababu Naidu Nara Lokesh pm narendra modi visakhapatnam yoga day Location : Visakhapatnam, India, India First Published: June 21, 2025, 16:01 IST News india 'The Pause That Humanity Needs': PM Modi Leads The Way At International Yoga Day Event In Visakhapatnam
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Visakhapatnam sets world record on International Yoga Day: 3.02 lakh people perform yoga along 28km beach stretch; PM Narendra Modi leads historic event
VISAKHAPATNAM: The coastal city made history by setting a world record with a massive participation of 302,000 people performing yoga along the beach stretch, in the presence of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on International Yoga Day, Saturday. The port city aimed for a turnout of 326,000 to establish a new Guinness World Record for the largest yoga gathering in one place, exceeding the previous record in Surat, Gujarat, by 147,000 participants. Notably, 22,122 tribal students from Alluri Sitarama Raju district had previously set a record for the largest synchronized performance of Suryanamaskar at a single location. The gathering on the beach stretch spanned about 28 kilometers from Kalimata Temple to Bheemili and began even before sunrise. Fortunately, the weather was kind, with not a single drop of rain falling in the morning. People of all ages participated, supported by a QR code tracking system that recorded 302,087 attendees. With all necessary precautions in place, the authorities ensured that there were no untoward incidents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Union Ministers Prataprao Jadhav, Rammohan Naidu, Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, Srinivasa Varma, State BJP President D. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 임플란트 29만원 이벤트 임플란트 더 알아보기 Undo Purandeswari, State Minister Nara Lokesh, and other officials participated in the yoga session alongside the public. Meanwhile, Indian Navy personnel performed yoga on the decks of warships along the coast. All 326 designated areas were filled with enthusiastic participants who began arriving early in the morning. Over 10,000 vehicles transported people from various locations. Despite some traffic congestion at various junctions, the event proceeded peacefully and successfully, supported by more than 10,000 security personnel and an additional 6,000 government staff from various departments who worked diligently for the past month. While the state government anticipated a turnout of 20 million participants statewide, registrations reached 24.5 million. In total, 217 million people participated in various locations across Andhra Pradesh. Initially, the government planned to issue 2.5 million certificates to participants who underwent three days to one week of training. However, they later revised this estimate to identify 18 million eligible individuals for certificates. All 26 districts in the state organized different theme-based yoga events, and around 101 tourist destinations celebrated Yoga Day.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Bihar joins nation in celebrating 11th International Day of Yoga with enthusiasm, unity
Patna: The 11th International Day of Yoga was celebrated with immense enthusiasm and widespread participation across Bihar, from urban centres to rural areas. Under the theme 'One Earth, One Health', people gathered in large numbers to embrace yoga as a pathway to physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. A major state-level event was organised at Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna by the Bihar Health Department, where around 500 people performed yoga together. The event saw the participation of top state leaders including Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Health Minister Mangal Pandey, Road Construction Minister Nitin Naveen, Minister Vijay Chaudhary, MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, and former MP Ramkripal Yadav among others. Senior administrative officers such as Development Commissioner Pratyaya Amrit also joined the session, showcasing the state's collective commitment to the wellness movement. Speaking at the event, Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha called yoga a 'great gift to humanity', given to the world by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'Yoga unites humanity, leads to inner peace, and is a powerful tool for a healthy, stress-free life,' he said. 'If future generations are to stay strong and stress-free, yoga must be part of their lives,' Sinha further said. Deputy CM Choudhary also praised PM Modi's role in globalising yoga. 'Yoga is not just an exercise; it's a path to happiness. Thanks to Prime Minister Modi's vision, India's ancient civilisation is now touching every corner of the globe through yoga,' Choudhary said. Health Minister Mangal Pandey remarked that 'yoga is an ancient gift from India that brings balance to the mind and body. Today, it is a global movement that helps prevent diseases and improves overall health.' The state is home to the world-renowned Bihar School of Yoga, widely credited for spreading the practice of yoga globally. On Yoga Day, thousands of people practiced yoga not only in Patna but also in villages and districts across Bihar, reaffirming the state's deep-rooted connection to the yogic tradition. BJP state President Dilip Jaiswal highlighted yoga's relevance in modern life. 'Yoga gives us a new lease of life. It is crucial for anyone who wishes to live healthily and purposefully. Today, two types of yoga are being practiced in Bihar — real yoga for health and political yoga with words,' he quipped.
