Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced on Wednesday that the state will conduct YogAndhra 2026 from June 7 to 20 as part of the celebrations marking the 12th International Day of Yoga, with a target of engaging one crore people in yoga activities across the state.
A daily habit for every household
Addressing the media at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister said yoga should become a daily habit in every household and evolve into a mass movement for building a healthier Andhra Pradesh.
He also launched the YogAndhra Portal, which will serve as the central platform for registrations, programme schedules, instructional videos and other information related to the campaign.
25,000 participants to perform yoga on Krishna bridge
CM Naidu said the flagship YogAndhra 2026 event would be held on a grand scale in Amaravati, with around 25,000 participants expected to perform yoga on the Krishna River West Bypass bridge.
India's gift to the world
Describing yoga as India's invaluable gift to the world, the Chief Minister said it remains one of the most effective tools for addressing growing concerns such as stress, anxiety and lifestyle-related diseases.
"Yoga is a comprehensive wellness practice that promotes physical fitness, mental peace and spiritual growth," he said.
The Chief Minister highlighted the success of last year's YogAndhra programme, which was held in Visakhapatnam in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and earned national and international recognition.
The event secured two Guinness World Records, 21 World Book of Records recognitions and a Skoch Award. According to official figures, around 2.44 crore people registered for YogAndhra 2025; certificates were issued to 1.91 crore participants, yoga activities were conducted at 1.33 lakh venues and supported by 1.53 lakh trainers.
Yoga sessions at 56 tourist destinations
To ensure broad-based participation, the government has planned district-specific themes and activities.
Special yoga programmes will be organised for police personnel in NTR district, farmers in Konaseema district and other community groups across the state. Yoga events will also be held at all district headquarters.
In a bid to promote wellness tourism, the government will conduct yoga sessions at 56 major tourist destinations, including heritage and spiritual sites such as Undavalli Caves and Srisailam.
Swarna Andhra 2047 Vision
CM Naidu said yoga forms a key component of the Swarna Andhra 2047 Vision, with long-term goals that include training 10 lakh certified yoga practitioners, expanding the trainer network to 2.5 lakh instructors and encouraging one crore people to practise yoga regularly throughout the year.
To support the programme, the State Government has allocated a special budget of Rs 10 crore for infrastructure, publicity and event management at district and local levels.
The Chief Minister stressed that yoga promotion should not be confined to annual celebrations and announced plans to continue awareness and participation activities throughout the year.
Access to 168 educational yoga videos
He said wellness expert Dr Manthena Satyanarayana Raju is providing guidance for strengthening the YogAndhra initiative.
To expand outreach, the government has developed more than 168 educational yoga videos, which can be accessed by sending a "Hi" message to WhatsApp number 81424 04888. Naidu also appealed to social media influencers, television channels and cable networks to voluntarily support the awareness campaign.
Special emphasis is being placed on encouraging participation among women, youth and students. The government is also working towards integrating yoga into educational institutions to help children develop healthy habits from an early age.
"If children adopt yoga at a young age, we can build a healthier and stronger generation for the future," the Chief Minister said.
YogAndhra initiative
The YogAndhra initiative is being supported by several prominent spiritual and wellness organisations, including the Art of Living Foundation, Isha Foundation, Brahma Kumaris, Baba Ramdev, Dr Manthena Satyanarayana Raju and Prakriti Ashram.