Visakhapatnam is buzzing with activity as the city gears up to host a massive International Yoga Day event on June 21, 2025, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. The event, expected to draw around five lakh participants, is being organized along a 26-kilometer stretch from RK Beach to Bhogapuram, aiming for a Guinness World Record for the largest open-air yoga gathering.
Preparations are in full swing, with the Andhra Pradesh government and various departments coordinating to ensure a seamless and successful event. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has been personally overseeing the arrangements, emphasizing the government's commitment to making the event a grand success. He arrived in Visakhapatnam on June 20 to review the final preparations. The Chief Minister has expressed his aim to achieve multiple world records through this Yoga Day initiative.
The preparations include setting up over 300 compartments along Beach Road, each accommodating around 1,000 participants. Medical camps will be set up at every kilometer, supported by 200 ambulances and a network of 2,000 CCTV cameras to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. Security arrangements are also a top priority, with over 9,500 personnel deployed to maintain order during the event. The Visakhapatnam City Police has imposed traffic and drone restrictions to manage the large-scale event effectively. Drone usage is banned within a 5-kilometer radius of sensitive locations, including INS Chola, Andhra University grounds, Kali Mata temple, and INS Kalinga.
The event will follow the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP), a 45-minute structured session designed by the Ministry of AYUSH to ensure uniformity. The yoga session will commence with a minute of prayer, followed by six minutes of loosening exercises to prepare the body for asanas.
To facilitate the event, the Andhra Pradesh government has declared a two-day holiday for schools and colleges in Visakhapatnam on June 20 and 21. This measure aims to prevent traffic congestion, ensure public safety, and facilitate smooth arrangements for the event. Traffic restrictions are also in place on key routes, especially near the Beach Road area, from the afternoon of June 20 until the evening of June 21.
The Ministry of AYUSH and the Andhra Pradesh government conducted a high-level review and field inspection of the venues, including RK Beach, Rishikonda Beach, Andhra University, and GITAM University. Discussions focused on inter-departmental coordination, public mobilization, infrastructure readiness, and safety protocols. The "Yogandhra" initiative aims to integrate yoga into the daily lives of over two crore citizens, with events planned at one lakh locations across the state.
The theme for this year's International Day of Yoga is "Yoga for One Earth, One Health," reflecting India's vision of global wellness and the interconnectedness of human and planetary health.
In a prelude to the main event, around 25,000 tribal children performed 108 Surya Namaskars in 108 minutes at Andhra University, highlighting the growing grassroots reach of yoga.
With elaborate arrangements and enthusiastic participation, Visakhapatnam is poised to host a memorable and impactful International Yoga Day celebration, promoting yoga as a mass movement for holistic well-being.
