Visakhapatnam readies for International Day of Yoga: Senior officials conduct key review meeting

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], June 15 (ANI): As India prepares to mark a decade of the International Day of Yoga (IDY), the city of Visakhapatnam--chosen as the national host for the 11th edition--witnessed a comprehensive field visit and high-level review meeting by senior officials from the Ministry of Ayush and the Government of Andhra Pradesh, said a statement,
The review comes at a time when preparations are gaining momentum across the country, driven by the Prime Minister's clarion call to take yoga to the person at the last mile, the Ayush Ministry said in the statement.
The inspection at ground level, led by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, and K Vijayanand, Special Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh, included senior officials such as Monalisa Dash, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, District Collector M N Harendhira Prasad, and heads of key departments including Health, Urban Planning, Ayush, and VMRDA.
Their joint visit to the main sites--RK Beach, Rishikonda Beach, Andhra University and GITAM University--underscored the scale and seriousness with which the event is being planned. These venues will not only host the main yoga demonstration but will also serve as centres for cultural, educational, and wellness activities, resonating with the Prime Minister's vision of yoga as a people-centric movement.
During the review, detailed discussions were held on inter-departmental coordination, mobilisation- strategies, security protocols, and cultural integration. Special emphasis was laid on the preparedness of infrastructure and public participation, ensuring that every logistical aspect aligns with the national ambition of making yoga a mass movement.
Officials reviewed how various departments are coming together in a spirit of collaboration, echoing the PM's vision that yoga should unite institutions and communities in the service of collective well-being.
At the heart of Andhra Pradesh's efforts is the pioneering "Yogandhra" initiative, which aims to transform yoga into a daily practice for more than two crore citizens across the state. Designed to mobilize communities at scale, Yogandhra includes mass awareness drives, yoga camps in schools and universities, and a targeted plan to create a certified pool of 20 lakh yoga practitioners.
With IDY celebrations planned at one lakh locations across the state, and five lakh participants expected in Visakhapatnam alone, the initiative is a powerful embodiment of the Prime Minister's appeal to make yoga truly inclusive, accessible, and transformative.
The Ministry of Ayush lauded the proactive leadership of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, stating that the state's ambitious scale and grassroots engagement model reflect the evolving spirit of IDY as a global wellness campaign rooted in Indian tradition.
As June 21 approaches, Visakhapatnam stands ready to showcase how yoga can bridge communities, enhance well-being, and reflect India's commitment to "Yoga for One Earth, One Health." (ANI)