Andhra Pradesh eyes Guinness record for Yoga Day on June 21; over 1.13 crore registrations so far
Launched on May 21, the campaign has received an overwhelming response for the International Day of Yoga on June 21
By Sri Lakshmi Muttevi
Visakhapatnam: Over 1.13 crore people have registered for the Andhra Pradesh governmentās month-long Yogandhra campaign, launched to raise awareness and encourage widespread participation in yoga. The State government is aiming to set a new Guinness World Record through this initiative.
Launched on May 21, the campaign has received an overwhelming response for the International Day of Yoga on June 21.
On Sunday, a session was held at Thotlakonda along Beach Road, from 6:30 am to 8 am, with around 1,000 participants, including Indian Navy personnel, members of self-help groups, yoga association representatives and officials, according to district tourism officer J Madhavi.
Practice yoga daily at RK Beach
Drone shots of yoga by the participants are going viral on social media.
Daily yoga sessions are also being conducted at RK Beach, drawing thousands of participants.
In the Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district, sessions are being organised at major tourist destinations such as Borra Caves, Chaparai, Araku Tribal Museum and Maredumilli, each expecting a minimum of 1,000 participants. A special session with 5,000 participants from tribal communities is scheduled for June 4 in Paderu, announced district collector AS Dinesh Kumar.
Aiming for 2 crore registrations
Special Chief Secretary and State Nodal Officer for Yogandhra, MT Krishna Babu, said the campaign, launched in the lead-up to the International Day of Yoga on June 21, has a target of 2 crore registrations across the State. Registrations for Master Trainers have reached 408 per cent of the target, and for Trainers, 113 per cent, reflecting strong grassroots participation and effective coordination by district authorities.
PM Modi to participate in June 21 event
The main event on June 21 is expected to be graced by prime minister Narendra Modi, following a request from TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu. The International Day of Yoga will be celebrated along the picturesque coastal stretch from RK Beach to Bhimili in Visakhapatnam, with lakhs of participants expected to take part in a mass yoga performance.
In 2023, Surat in Gujarat set the Guinness World Record with 1.53 lakh people performing yoga together, surpassing the previous record set by Kota in 2018 with 1,00,984 participants. Visakhapatnam now aims to break that record by a significant margin.
