JUNE 15: As India prepares to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY), the spotlight is on Visakhapatnam, the official national host for this milestone event in 2025. With just days remaining until June 21, a high-level team of officials conducted a comprehensive field visit and strategic review to assess preparedness.
The inspection was led by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, along with Shri K. Vijayanand, Special Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh. The team also included Joint Secretary Ms. Monalisa Dash, District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad, and top officials from departments such as Health, Urban Planning, Ayush, and VMRDA. Their visit covered key venues including RK Beach, Rishikonda Beach, Andhra University, and GITAM University—all of which will host a variety of activities during the IDY celebrations.
These venues are not only set to stage the main yoga demonstrations but also act as hubs for cultural performances, wellness sessions, and educational events, aligning with the Prime Minister’s call to make yoga accessible to everyone, including those at the last mile.
The review meeting focused on critical aspects such as inter-departmental coordination, security planning, public engagement, and logistical readiness. Officials discussed strategies for smooth execution of the event, ensuring that infrastructure and community mobilization efforts meet the expectations of a national-level celebration.
Central to Andhra Pradesh’s preparations is the ambitious “Yogandhra” initiative, which aims to bring yoga into the daily routine of over two crore citizens across the state. This initiative includes large-scale awareness campaigns, yoga training programs in schools and colleges, and a plan to certify 20 lakh yoga practitioners. With IDY events scheduled at one lakh locations across the state and an estimated five lakh participants in Visakhapatnam alone, the scale of engagement is unprecedented.
The Ministry of Ayush praised Andhra Pradesh’s proactive and inclusive approach, noting that the state’s grassroots model is a true reflection of IDY’s evolving purpose—to promote “Yoga for One Earth, One Health” and build a healthier, more connected world.
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