In a historic display of unity and wellness, Visakhapatnam set a new Guinness World Record for hosting the largest yoga session at a single location, with over 3.01 lakh participants taking part in the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations.
The mass yoga event, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the scenic RK Beach, stretched across 28 kilometers all the way to Bhogapuram, surpassing the previous record of 1.47 lakh participants set in Surat in 2023.
PM Modi was joined by an impressive lineup of dignitaries, including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, and several union and state ministers. Together, they performed the Common Yoga Protocol in a sea of yoga mats, creating a powerful visual of collective well-being.
The event marked the culmination of the month-long ‘Yogandhra’ campaign, which reached over 2.17 crore people across Andhra Pradesh. From tribal villages to urban centers, the campaign drew widespread participation and helped set multiple yoga-related records.
Among the standout contributors were 11,000 Navy personnel and their families, who joined the event in Visakhapatnam, while the Eastern Naval Command conducted synchronized yoga sessions aboard anchored ships offshore.
To manage the massive gathering, organizers established 326 dedicated compartments along the beachside route, coordinated through 607 Urban Secretariats and additional rural teams. This meticulous planning ensured a seamless and inclusive experience for participants of all ages—children, professionals, senior citizens, and women alike.
After the event, officials from the Guinness World Records presented certificates to state ministers Nara Lokesh and Satya Kumar, confirming not only the largest yoga session but also a separate record for a mass Surya Namaskar event involving 22,122 tribal students.
Speaking after the ceremony, Minister Lokesh called the record-setting event a "gift" to Prime Minister Modi and a proud reflection of India’s growing embrace of yoga. He emphasized that the Prime Minister’s encouragement has inspired continued commitment to health and wellness initiatives across the state.