How PM Modi Has Led Yoga Day Celebrations Since 2014

Yoga Day Celebrations: Since becoming Prime Minister in 2014, Narendra Modi has consistently played a key role in making the International Day of Yoga a global observance. Soon after taking office, he proposed the idea before the UN General Assembly, which ultimately led to the designation of June 21 as Yoga Day in 2014. Beginning in 2015, PM Modi has led annual celebrations across various locations, continuously promoting global well-being through yoga.

This year, the world celebrates the 11th International Day of Yoga. Continuing this tradition, PM Modi is leading the grand celebration from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with a massive gathering spread across a 26-kilometer stretch from Ramakrishna Beach to Bhogapuram.

Some Major Events of PM Modi During Yoga Day Celebrations:

1. 2015: Kartavya Path, New Delhi

The event, held at Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath), followed the theme “Yoga for Harmony and Peace.” PM Modi joined over 35,000 participants, including leaders from 84 countries, to perform 21 yoga poses. The gathering broke two Guinness World Records: one for the largest yoga class and another for the highest number of participating nationalities.

2. 2016: Capitol Complex, Chandigarh

The second edition of International Yoga Day adopted the theme “Yoga for the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.” Building on the success of the first year, over 30,000 people participated in the event. PM Modi actively led the session by performing stretching and deep breathing exercises, reinforcing yoga’s role in promoting global sustainability and well-being.

3. 2017: Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, Lucknow

Under the theme “Yoga for Health,” more than 51,000 yoga enthusiasts attended the event hosted by Prime Minister Modi. Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, also attended the function.

4. 2018: Forest Research Institute, Dehradun

With the theme “Yoga for Peace,” 50,000 people attended the event, where PM Modi led them in asanas.

5. 2019: Prabhat Tara Maidan, Ranchi

The government organized the primary festivities in Ranchi under the theme “Yoga for Heart.” PM Modi, who emphasized the vital role of yoga in promoting heart health, led the event alongside nearly 40,000 participants. Together, they highlighted yoga’s power to foster both physical and emotional well-being.

6. 2020: Virtual Celebration Amid COVID-19:

Due to the pandemic, organizers scaled down public gatherings and instead held virtual celebrations under the theme “Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family.” As the world adjusted to this new reality, PM Modi emphasized in a televised speech that the pandemic had made yoga more important than ever, highlighting its role in strengthening both physical and mental well-being.

Also Read: Top Yoga Events in Hyderabad on International Yoga Day 2025

7. 2021: Back to Grounds

Once again, people across the country hosted gatherings in their homes under the theme “Yoga for Wellness.” This year, the celebrations placed an even stronger emphasis on health and resilience. Building on this spirit, PM Modi highlighted yoga’s growing global influence and stated that it has empowered people around the world, providing them with the strength and confidence to combat the challenges of the pandemic.

8. 2022: Mysuru Palace Grounds, Karnataka

Under the theme “Yoga for Humanity,” 15,000 people gathered for the event. PM Modi led the yoga session, bringing energy and unity to the celebration. Meanwhile, festivities across 79 countries connected through Indian missions and UN agencies as part of a special initiative called the “Guardian Ring” project, which symbolically linked the global celebrations in real time.

9. 2023: UN Headquarters, New York

“Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” or “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” was the topic. Over 135 people from different countries participated in a single yoga practice, setting a Guinness World Record.

10. 2024: Srinagar

In 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a massive Yoga Day celebration involving nearly 24.53 crore people from the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre in Srinagar. Notably, the previous year’s event made history by setting several new records in the Guinness Book of World Records, further highlighting India’s growing global influence in promoting yoga.

11. 2025: Visakhapatnam

PM Modi led a lavish Yoga Day celebration in Visakhapatnam this year. The 11th International Yoga Day carried the theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.” At the event, he emphasized, “Yoga stands for one earth, one health. It guides us from ‘me’ to ‘we.’ Through yoga, India is offering healing to the world.”

Also Read: International Yoga Day 2025: India Sets 5 World Records