
Enthusiasm marks International Day of Yoga in Andhra Pradesh
The month-long Yogandhra campaign organised across Andhra Pradesh culminated in the International Day of Yoga-2025 held on the Beach Road in Visakhapatnam, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, Union Ministers, and Ministers participated.
The officials and staff of various departments, who had toiled day in and day out, heaved a sigh of relief as the mega event passed off without any major glitches.
Contrary to the alerts of possible rain that threatened to mar the mega event, the cool breeze in the early hours, followed by the sun casting its rays after dawn provided relief to the organisers.
A beaming Prime Minister heaped lavish praise on the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, and had a special mention of the work done by HRD Minister Nara Lokesh in the smooth conduct of the month-long event. Mr. Modi said that Mr. Lokesh had set an example for others to emulate in the conduct of such mega events.
Later, at a review meeting, Mr. Naidu commended the Ministers, MLAs, officials, and staff for the success of the event across the State.
In NTR district, 9 lakh people had taken part in the yoga sessions organised at every Grama Sachivalayam. In Vijayawada, more than 5,000 people gathered at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium, where a huge screen was set up for the live telecast of the main event from Visakhapatnam. District Collector G. Lakshmisha and Police Commissioner S.V. Rajasekhara Babu were among the officials who took part.
At the Suryalanka Beach in Bapatla district, Collector J. Venkata Murali, along with 10,000 people, participated in the Yoga Day celebrations. Many participated in various other locations across the district.
In Palnadu district, a total of 9.97 lakh people participate in the yoga sessions at 5,000 venues. Collector P. Arun Babu participated at the district headquarters, where around 10,000 people participated, the I&PR Department said.
In Guntur district, Collector S. Nagalakshmi participated along with 5,000 participants at the Police Parade Grounds in Guntur city. A total of 9.70 people participated at 5,130 venues.
An overwhelming participation of over 8 lakh people was witnessed under the Yogandhra- 2025 initiative across the Chittoor district.
In Chittoor, Collector Sumit Kumar, Superintendent of Police V.N. Manikantha Chandolu, and officials joined the public in the yoga day event at the District Police Grounds.
At Rayachoti in Annamayya district, over 5,000 people took part in the event, led by Collector Sridhar Chamakuri. In Hindupur of Sri Sathya Sai district, Collector T.S. Chetan highlighted the importance of doing yoga every day for good health.
(With inputs from N. Sravani, K. Umasankar, and G. Sambasiva Rao)
Hashtags

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


Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Varanasi gears up for CZC meeting, final touches underway
1 2 Varanasi: With the Central Zonal Council (CZC) meeting scheduled for June 25, preparations have intensified in Varanasi. Beautification works are nearing completion, particularly along routes that will witness VIP movements beginning Monday evening. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and the CMs of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are expected to attend the meeting. According to officials, this will be the first time a non-state capital city is hosting a zonal council meeting, mrking a significant moment for Varanasi following its successful hosting of G20 events in 2023. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Divisional Commissioner S. Rajalingam and Commissioner of Police Mohit Agrawal confirmed that all logistical and security arrangements are in the final stages. The visiting CMs— Pushkar Singh Dhami (Uttarakhand), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh), and Vishnu Deo Sai (Chhattisgarh) — will arrive in the city on Monday. That evening, they will offer prayers at the Kaal Bhairav and Kashi Vishwanath temples before proceeding to the meeting venue at Hotel Taj in Nadesar on Tuesday morning. To ensure smooth movement and aesthetic appeal, authorities are focusing on key areas including the stretch from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport to Hotel Taj and the roads leading to both temples. Thematic display boards are being installed along the Varuna bridge, while road dividers are being freshly painted. Work on enhancing street lighting and greenery is also nearing completion, with multiple agencies working in coordination. On the security front, Commissioner Agrawal said a multi-layered deployment plan has been finalised. Security personnel will be stationed at the venue and across the VIP routes. Measures include rooftop surveillance, deployment of officers in plain clothes, drone monitoring, and route diversions. Traffic diversions will remain in effect from Monday evening until the dignitaries' departure on Tuesday. CM Yogi during his visit to the venue on June 16, had reviewed the arrangements and instructed officials to ensure the timely completion of all pending work. With issues from multiple departments expected to be discussed, senior officials from Union ministries and departments of the four participating states have already started arriving in the city.


India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Navy personnel celebrate International Yoga Day on-board INS Vikramaditya
New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI): The Indian Navy marked International Yoga Day 2025 by conducting a special yoga session on board the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. A video shared by the Navy showed personnel performing various yoga asanas on the ship's deck. Apart from this, 11,000 personnel from the Eastern Naval Command, along with their family members, performed yoga onboard Indian Navy ships and across the Vizag coastline. Eastern Naval Command is proud to join hands with YogAndhra 2025, a landmark initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Ayush and the State Government of Andhra Pradesh, celebrating the International Day of Yoga in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam, an official statement from the Indian Navy said. Apart from this, the Indian Army also organised a yoga session at the world's highest battlefield, in Siachen. Multiple soldiers, veterans, families and children participated in the session. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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. (ANI)


News18
an hour ago
- News18
Nicknames, Humour & Advice: How PM Modi's Personal Touch Inspires NDA's Young Turks
Last Updated: The prime minister's leadership is marked by an emotional intelligence that often goes unseen in conventional politics On the morning of June 21, as the Sun rose over the coastal town of Visakhapatnam, a state-wide celebration of International Yoga Day unfolded in Andhra Pradesh. But beyond the Yoga mats and pranayama sessions, what truly struck a chord with the people was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warm and public praise for a rising leader—Nara Lokesh, son of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. In his address, PM Modi didn't just compliment Lokesh's month-and-a-half-long effort to turn Yoga Day into a people's movement, he affectionately referred to him as 'Bhai", not once but multiple times. The crowd noticed, and so did the political observers. A spontaneous moment the evening before had already gone viral—a candid photo of PM Modi placing a friendly arm around Lokesh and the two sharing a laugh. In Andhra's political circles, the message was loud and clear: Lokesh had arrived. But this wasn't a one-off interaction. Recently, PM Modi invited Lokesh and his family to his official residence in Delhi. Over two hours, they discussed governance, politics, personal anecdotes, and even Lokesh's young son, Devansh, who walked away utterly delighted. It was a rare, relaxed meeting that showed how the prime minister nurtures personal relationships even in the thick of political life. If Lokesh is the 'Bhai", then Shrikant Shinde, Shiv Sena MP and son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, is the 'Bhau". A moniker usually reserved for an elder brother, the nickname was picked up by PM Modi after hearing how fellow MPs affectionately referred to Shrikant during an international delegation tour. Back home, even Eknath Shinde couldn't hide his pride. During a speech on Shiv Sena Foundation Day, an emotional Shinde Sr spoke of how his son had made every Sena worker proud—and even more so, his own father. PM Modi's mentorship style isn't always loud or ceremonial—but rather consistent, direct, and deeply personal. One of the youngest ministers in his cabinet, TDP's Rammohan Naidu, discovered this during one of the most emotionally taxing times: the Air India crash in Ahmedabad. As the minister in-charge faced growing pressure and grief, PM Modi offered crucial advice—remain calm, composed, and focused. He cited his own experiences during natural disasters, including moments where he had personally lifted victims' bodies during relief efforts. At a review meeting in Ahmedabad, the prime minister emphasised, 'It's easy to get emotional; staying steady is the true test of leadership." Such interactions reflect how Modi communicates not just with ministers, but with fellow MPs across party lines. Whether it's telling TDP MPs to 'call him anytime" if they need anything—'after all, he's an MP too"—or advising LJP leaders to make the most of their 'MY" (Mahila-Yuva) combination, Modi's messages resonate with both the politically seasoned and the first-timers. For many within the NDA, these aren't just niceties—they are moments of validation, encouragement, and connection. Take, for instance, Chirag Paswan, who often says Modi is his 'Ram", while he sees himself as 'Hanuman". The emotional bond is deeply felt, especially given the personal and political upheavals Chirag has faced. Children and teenagers too have stories. Whether it's Jaiveer Shergill's daughter, who was told by the PM, 'If your father troubles you, come to me," or the late Ananth Kumar's grandson, who declared to PM Modi that he wanted to grow up to be 'Hanuman", the anecdotes are as endearing as they are telling. Even Poonam Mahajan's daughter, upon meeting PM Modi, simply assumed he was her 'Ajoba" (grandfather)—because he was, in her words, 'so cool". Whether it's through affectionate nicknames like 'Bhai" and 'Bhau", informal dinners, or deeply human conversations during national crises, Modi's leadership is marked by an emotional intelligence that often goes unseen in conventional politics. He isn't just steering the ship—he's also cultivating the next line of captains. These moments may not always make it to the headlines, but for those involved, they become defining memories.