What Happened: On June 21, 2025, International Yoga Day was celebrated with mass enthusiasm across India and around the globe, marking the 11th annual observance of the UN-designated event. From the beaches of Visakhapatnam to the gardens of Tokyo and the National Mall in Washington, millions of people stretched, bent, and breathed in unison as part of organized yoga sessions. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the main event from the coastal city of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, where an estimated 300,000 people performed yoga together along a 26-km beachfront “Yoga Corridor”. In a speech inaugurating the session, Modi emphasized yoga’s role in promoting global harmony at a time of turmoil: “Unfortunately, today the entire world is going through tension and unrest… In such times, Yoga gives us the direction of peace. Yoga is the pause button that humanity needs to breathe, balance, and become whole again.”. The prime minister joined participants in practicing asanas (poses) and breathing exercises at the break of dawn, sharing the stage (or rather, mat) with Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan. The theme for International Yoga Day 2025 was “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” underscoring how yoga connects personal well-being with planetary well-being.
Global Participation: This year’s Yoga Day saw unprecedented international turnout. According to organizers, events were held in over 175 countries at 1.2 million locations worldwide, drawing the participation of an estimated 100 million+ people. Iconic landmarks doubled as yoga venues: Thousands rolled out mats in New York’s Central Park, London’s Trafalgar Square, and Sydney’s Bondi Beach. In Tokyo, hundreds gathered at the historic Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, where monks and yoga enthusiasts practiced side by side in a blend of spirituality and exercise. Even conflict-torn regions paused for yoga – in Kabul, a small group practiced in a secure compound, symbolizing a desire for peace. At the United Nations headquarters in New York, a special event featured diplomats and UN staff doing yoga, with the UN Secretary-General noting that yoga’s values of unity are needed in diplomacy. A notable message came from Britain’s King Charles III, a longtime yoga practitioner, who sent warm greetings praising Yoga Day for promoting “unity, compassion, and wellbeing” globally. On social media, the hashtag #YogaDay2025 trended in multiple countries as people shared images of sunrise yoga sessions and discussed the benefits of the ancient Indian practice.
One poignant image that went viral showed Indian peacekeepers conducting a yoga class for locals in South Sudan at a UN base – illustrating how yoga served as a bridge between cultures. Additionally, the Indian Navy and merchant marine celebrated by performing yoga on the decks of ships at sea, from aircraft carriers in the Indian Ocean to research vessels in the Arctic. Scientists aboard the International Space Station reportedly joined in with zero-gravity yoga poses, as mentioned by PM Modi in his remarks: “Scientists practice Yoga in space… From the Opera House steps in Sydney to the peak of Everest, the same message comes from everywhere: Yoga is for everyone, beyond boundaries.”.
India’s Celebrations and Message: Within India, Yoga Day has become a massive public event blending health, spirituality, and nationalism. Apart from Visakhapatnam’s flagship gathering, all 28 states and many union territories held state-level programs. In Delhi, thousands performed yoga at Rajpath (Kartavya Path), led by senior government ministers and yoga gurus. Yoga guru Baba Ramdev led a packed session in Haridwar. Schools, colleges, and even prisons across the country organized yoga workshops. The Indian Army and paramilitary forces took part from remote posts – images showed troops doing yoga in the Himalayas and on naval ships. “Heartfelt greetings to people across the country and the world on International Yoga Day,” Modi tweeted at the day’s start. He used the occasion to reminisce about how India’s proposal in late 2014 to recognize June 21 as International Yoga Day won instant support from a record 175 nations in the UN – a sign of yoga’s universal appeal. This year, Modi urged the global community to take “Yoga Day 2.0” forward: “Let this Yoga Day mark the beginning of Yoga for Humanity 2.0, where inner peace becomes global policy,” he said.
Andhra Pradesh’s CM Naidu, sharing the stage with Modi, praised him for turning yoga into a “global wellness movement” over the past decade. Notably, this Yoga Day celebration in Visakhapatnam also carried political significance: it was attended by actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan (now Deputy CM), reflecting a united front in the state. The massive turnout in Visakhapatnam – on International Day of Yoga’s 11th anniversary – was seen as a proud moment for India, showcasing its soft power. The visuals of an ocean of people synchronizing yoga poses on the beach were carried by media worldwide.
Hundreds practice yoga at a temple in Tokyo on International Yoga Day, June 21, 2025. The 11th annual Yoga Day saw events in 175+ countries, promoting wellness and peace.
Why It Matters: International Yoga Day has grown from an Indian diplomatic initiative into a global cultural phenomenon. Its popularity underscores the soft power of India’s heritage – yoga is now estimated to be a $100 billion global industry including classes, apparel, and tourism. But beyond commerce, the spirit of Yoga Day 2025 was particularly poignant. With the world facing wars (as in the Middle East), climate stress, and post-pandemic mental health challenges, many found solace in the day’s theme of unity and healing. As PM Modi noted, the world is going through unrest – a likely reference to conflicts like the Israel-Iran war (see Story #1) – and he positioned yoga as a “direction of peace” for humanity. The subtext was clear: at a time of global divisions, something as simple and universal as mindful breathing can remind people of our common humanity.
The huge global participation also highlights international solidarity. Yoga Day is one of the few modern “world days” (alongside events like Earth Day) that sees mass public participation rather than just official ceremonies. This year, images of Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and people of other faiths doing yoga together were celebrated as a message of communal harmony. There were, however, some dissenting voices. In India, a few conservative religious groups annually critique Yoga Day, claiming it imposes Hindu rituals – but over the years these voices have waned as yoga’s health benefits gain acceptance across communities. The government has always emphasized that Yoga Day is “cultural, not religious,” and participation is voluntary. The inclusion of practice modifications (like chair yoga for the elderly and special sessions for differently-abled “Divyang” persons) has made the event more inclusive.
Implications: As Yoga Day wraps up, the government often uses the momentum to launch related initiatives. This year, India announced the creation of a new “Yoga for Climate Action” program, tying the mindfulness ethos to sustainable living practices. There is also talk of India proposing a “World Ayurveda Day” in a similar vein at the UN, building on yoga’s success. For the average person, International Yoga Day is a reminder to adopt healthier lifestyle habits. Many yoga instructors report a spike in class enrollments in weeks following June 21.
From a diplomatic perspective, the continued enthusiastic response from around the world reinforces India’s image as a champion of global wellness and cultural diplomacy. It’s remarkable that in just 11 years since it was first proposed by Modi in 2014, Yoga Day has been embraced universally – even in countries that don’t see eye-to-eye politically. In a briefing, the UN Secretary-General quipped, “In a divided world, we all at least agree on the value of yoga.” As the sun set on June 21, 2025, millions were left refreshed and inspired, proving that this unique global celebration of a 5,000-year-old practice is here to stay, helping ease some of the collective stress of our modern times.
