Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the celebrations of International Yoga Day on Saturday in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, as the state gears up to host a record-breaking yoga event along a 26-kilometre stretch from RK Beach to Bhogapuram.
The event, titled Yogandhra, is expected to draw over three lakh participants, making it one of the largest gatherings for yoga in the world. Modi arrived in the port city around 8 p.m. on Friday to take part in the early morning programme, scheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Extending a warm welcome to the Prime Minister, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan posted on social media platform X: “I extend my hearty welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has arrived to participate in the International Yoga Day tomorrow in Visakha city (Vizag) where lakhs of people will participate in the Yogandhra event.”
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced that the event is being meticulously planned to earn global recognition, including entries in the Guinness World Records. One of the major highlights will be a mass performance of Surya Namaskars by 25,000 tribal students for a continuous 108 minutes.
According to officials, participants will join the celebrations from more than eight lakh locations across Andhra Pradesh, the country, and abroad. Registrations for the event have already surpassed 2.39 crore, significantly exceeding the initial estimate of two crore.
To accommodate the massive turnout, organisers have set up 326 designated compartments, each capable of hosting 1,000 participants. Additionally, 3.32 lakh t-shirts and five lakh yoga mats have been distributed for the occasion. Over 3,000 buses are being deployed to transport yoga enthusiasts to the Vizag venue.
Chief Minister Naidu has urged all participants to arrive at their locations between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m. to ensure a timely start.
In view of the scale of the event, elaborate security arrangements are in place. DGP Harish Kumar Gupta stated that more than 1,200 CCTV cameras and drones will oversee the 26-kilometre corridor. Around 10,000 police personnel have been deployed to manage security and crowd control.
The event marks the 10th International Day of Yoga and reflects India’s growing emphasis on yoga as a global cultural and health movement.
