International Yoga Day: PM Modi to attend celebration in Vizag; Andhra eyes two Guinness World Records

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh is aiming to set two Guinness World Records and 22 other global records on International Yoga Day, scheduled for June 21.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said Visakhapatnam will host a grand celebration on International Yoga Day with the ambitious goal of setting two Guinness World Records and achieving a total of 22 global records.

Highlighting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the event, Naidu emphasized that the programme will be organized on a scale that attracts international recognition.

Speaking to the media at the Secretariat on Thursday, the Chief Minister shared key details of the upcoming event. He revealed that 25,000 tribal students will perform Surya Namaskars continuously for 108 minutes. The aim is to set records for both the largest group and the highest number of individuals performing Surya Namaskars simultaneously. Elaborate arrangements have been made along a 26-kilometer stretch from RK Beach to Bhogapuram in Visakhapatnam.

Naidu stated that 3.19 lakh participants will perform yoga together at RK Beach, with participation expected from over 8 lakh locations across the state, the country, and abroad. “We initially expected 2 crore registrations for Yoga Day, but the number has already exceeded 2.39 crores,” he added.

The month-long “Yogandhra” initiative, running from May 21 to June 21, has featured over 15,000 yoga competitions across all levels, from village to state levels, conducted at major tourist and heritage sites. A team of 5,451 master trainers facilitated the campaign, and over 1.05 crore participants received certificates linked with Aadhaar and QR codes for authentication.

To ensure smooth participation, the government has arranged transportation for attendees from various regions. A total of 326 compartments have been prepared, each capable of accommodating 1,000 people. Additionally, 3.32 lakh T-shirts and 5 lakh yoga mats have been arranged, along with sanitation and toilet facilities for morning sessions.

The event will be held from 6:30 AM to 8:00 AM on June 21 and is themed “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.” The state also plans to introduce yoga into school curricula from Class 9, with classes held once or twice weekly, and is exploring the idea of establishing a deemed university focused on yoga education.