
Sand Artist Creates Yoga Sculpture Of PM Modi At Puri Beach To Mark 11th International Day of Yoga
On the occasion of the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations, renowned sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik on Saturday created a remarkable sand sculpture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing Ustrasana (Camel Pose) at Puri Beach.
Below the sculpture, the theme for this year, "Yoga for One Earth, One Health", was written. Pattnaik's sand art highlighted the significance of yoga, promoting awareness about its benefits for mental peace and well-being. His creations are typically accompanied by vibrant colors and intricate designs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took part in the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations, where he hailed yoga as a gift "beyond age" that transcends all boundaries and unites humanity in "health and harmony." The event took place against the scenic backdrop of the Visakhapatnam coastline, with Indian Navy ships stationed near the shore, adding to the grandeur of the celebrations.
The Prime Minister praised the efforts of the Andhra Pradesh government and extended his appreciation to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan for hosting the event in Visakhapatnam.
He lauded their leadership as "inspiring" and described the state's initiative to promote yoga as "commendable."
Over three lakh individuals joined him for a mass yoga session in the coastal city, reinforcing this year's message that 'yoga belongs to everyone' and brings the world together. The Prime Minister recalled India's initiative at the United Nations in 2014 to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day, a move that received wide global support in record time.
BJP national president JP Nadda also took part in the International Day of Yoga celebrations in New Delhi. He spoke about the deeper meaning of yoga and how it has gone far beyond just being a form of physical exercise.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan performed yoga at the Kishan Mela Ground in Pusa, New Delhi, joining thousands of participants across the country in marking the occasion. The 11th International Day of Yoga saw widespread participation across states.
The Indian Army personnel celebrated International Yoga Day across the Himalayas, turning the harshest terrains into sanctuaries of mindfulness and wellness.
"Interational Yoga Day : Shahi Kangri Amidst the icy expanse of Shahi Kangri Lake at 20,000 feet, Indian Army marked the International Yoga Day 2025 with unwavering resolve and inner still. In a place where every breath is a challenge, soldiers embraced the timeless discipline of yoga -- a source of strength, clarity, and resilience enhancing mental focus, emotional balance and physical endurance even in the harshest of conditions." posted Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army on X.
Furthermore, India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Vikram Doraiswami, led the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations at The Strand in London on Saturday, drawing vibrant participation from the Indian diaspora, yoga enthusiasts, and friends of India.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


United News of India
34 minutes ago
- United News of India
Revival of peace reflected in tourist footfall at Manas: Assam CM
Guwahati, June 21 (UNI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the revival of peace across Assam was reflected in the rise in footfall to the Manas National Park and tiger reserve. He said this while taking part in the 11th International Day of Yoga held at the Salbari College playground in Baksa on Saturday. The event was jointly organised by the National AYUSH Mission, Assam, the Bodoland Territorial Council and the Baksa district administration. It centred on the theme 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health'. Speaking at the event, Sarma noted that yoga contributes to physical well-being, mental composure, and a sense of purpose, which accounts for its increasing global relevance and integration into contemporary life. He attributed the international recognition of yoga to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts, particularly his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, 2014, which resulted in the UN's formal declaration of June 21 as International Yoga Day on December 11, 2014. Reviewing Assam's engagement with the Yoga Day, the Chief Minister recalled that the inaugural state-level celebration was held at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati in 2015, with subsequent editions hosted in locations such as Majuli, Nalbari, Nagaon, Kamrup Metropolitan, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, Dhubri, and Tezpur. He expressed confidence that this year's event, held in collaboration with the BTR and Baksa administration, would invigorate the advancement of yoga in the region. Sarma also remarked on the significance of Salbari as the venue, observing its transition from a region once affected by conflict during the Bodo movement to now emblematic of Bodoland's improved conditions and administrative stability. The event, he stated, not only celebrates yoga but also symbolises the region's resilience and renewal. Noting the rising number of visitors to Manas National Park, he affirmed that Salbari is poised for a new chapter of development. UNI ANP PRS


The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Process of reviving Salem Steel Plant at preliminary stage: Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy said the process of reviving the Salem Steel Plant is at a preliminary stage, on Saturday (June 21, 2025.) The Union Minister participated in the International Yoga Day celebrations at Salem Steel Plant on Saturday and performed asanas. International Yoga Day LIVE updates: Yoga teaches us we are not isolated individuals but integral parts of nature: PM Modi Later, speaking to the reporters, the Union Minister congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for encouraging the Hindu culture of yoga. 'Every year on June 21, the Prime Minister himself attends yoga and encourages every family to do yoga, as it is a must to look after their health. By participating in yoga, the Prime Minister also encouraged the world to do yoga.' Stating that it is his second visit to Salem Steel Plant after becoming Union Minister, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, 'We are working out how to revive Salem Steel Plant. We have constituted two consultative committees to give their recommendations to improve the Salem Steel Plant technically and market-wise, which are in the preliminary stage. We have a sentiment about the plant that it was earlier running successfully and each family had this plant product. In the year 2003-04, the plant functioned with ₹180 crore profit. But now, in the last 10 to 15 years, the profit is declining and steps are being taken to sort this out, which are in preliminary stages.' International Yoga Day 2025 — In pictures 1 / 21 The Prime Minister and also the Finance Minister have commitments to save these kinds of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). The decline of the Salem Steel Plant allegedly started during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre between 2004 and 2014. Since the steps to revive this plant are still in the preliminary stage, we expect to receive proper information within the next four or five months. Several consumer products could be produced at Salem Plant and we are working on it. 'At present, there is no idea for new recruitment for the plant and the first duty is to save this plant and sort out the workers issue and after strengthening the plant, there will be new recruitment,' the Minister added. Responding to a question on the BJP trying to divide regional parties, the Union Minister replied that the BJP is not dividing the parties. The regional parties in some States are dividing themselves owing to personal issues. The BJP is working to strengthen the country. Regarding the language issue in releasing the actor Kamal Haasan-starred Thug Life movie in Karnataka, the Minister said the movie was released already.


India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Rekha Gupta performs yoga by Yamuna, jabs Kejriwal over failed promises
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday performed yoga on the banks of the Yamuna River on the occasion of International Yoga Day, taking a dig at former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. She said her act was meant to highlight her administration's efforts to clean the river after years of unfulfilled promises by the AAP government."Yamuna river is the symbol of our faith but the previous governments have ignored it. They (AAP) did not work to clean it. But in the four months that we have been in power, we have worked to clean it."advertisementCalling out the previous AAP government's inaction on cleaning the Yamuna river, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the point of the exercise was to show the people of Delhi the ongoing efforts to clean the river. "Soon, there will be cruises here where the boats are... Everyone wants to work in this regard, and we used the technology that is being used to clean the river for the first time. We are working in the direction that if a single drop of water enters the river, it must be clean," she said, as reported by news agency ANI."People ask me, where will the cruise run? I want to tell them, the cruise will run on this river where students performed yoga today on boats," she added. Hitting out at the AAP dispensation, she said they associated yoga with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and did not celebrate the they associate yoga with Prime Minister Modi, what can we do? Tomorrow, he might leave his food if he sees PM's association with it. After seeing BJP government in Delhi, he left the national capital," she government organised programmes at 11 locations to commemorate the IDY, with ministers, MLAs and BJP MPs joining the from PTI, ANIMust Watch