Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], June 21 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh's Minister for Education, Nara Lokesh on Saturday congratulated the people of the state for attempting to set a world record on the occasion of International Yoga Day with more than 2 lakh people participating in the program led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Visakhapatnam.

The minister also mentioned that Saturday was observed as Yoga Day in all Andhra Pradesh schools.

'We are proud because the Prime Minister created a movement, and for the last 11 years he was driving this movement from the front, and we are very lucky that this time he allowed Andhra Pradesh to showcase our talent,' Minister Lokesh told ANI in Visakhapatnam.

Talking about the world record attempt, he added, 'We are lucky that people of Andhra Pradesh, especially North Andhra, attempted to break the world record. 2.8 to 3 lakh people participated in the program today with PM Modi, though we will get the official figures by the end of the day.'

Earlier today, while addressing the public gathering at Visakhapatnam of over 2 lakh people, PM Modi urged the international community to embrace 'inner peace' as a 'global policy' and make yoga a collective global responsibility.

Speaking at the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations in Visakhapatnam, the Prime Minister called upon countries to adopt yoga not just as a personal or cultural practice, but as a unifying force for humanity.

'I would like to take this opportunity to urge the global community on this important occasion to let this International Yoga Day mark the beginning of Yoga for Humanity. Let this be the day when inner peace becomes a global policy, where yoga is embraced not just as a personal practice, but as a powerful tool for global partnership and unity,' the PM said.

The event was held along the scenic Visakhapatnam coastline, with Indian Navy ships stationed near the shore, adding to the grandeur of the celebration. The PM was joined by lakhs of yoga enthusiasts, residents, and dignitaries from Andhra Pradesh.

Calling for a global mass movement through yoga, PM Modi said, 'Come, let us all together make Yoga a mass movement. A movement that takes the world towards peace, health and harmony. Where every person starts the day with yoga and finds balance in life. Where every society is connected to yoga and free from stress. Where yoga becomes the medium to bind humanity together. And where Yoga For One Earth, One Health becomes a global resolution.'

The Prime Minister also reflected on India's 2014 proposal at the United Nations to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day and how, in record time, over 170 countries supported the move. He said that yoga has since grown into a worldwide practice that symbolises peace, balance, and cooperation. (ANI)