On December 21, the United Nations General Assembly observed the inaugural World Meditation Day. To mark the occasion, the Permanent Mission of India organised an event at the UN headquarters in New York, with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living Foundation and a prominent spiritual leader, who led the gathering.
‘World Meditates with Gurudev’ saw participation from over 8.5 million people, both online and offline. Participants from over 180 countries joined the event, making it one of the largest collective meditation sessions in history, a press release from the foundation read, earning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records, the Asia Book of Records, and the World Records Union.
A total of 6 records were broken:
Guinness World Records
- The most viewers of a guided meditation live stream on YouTube
Asia Book of Records
- Maximum participation from all states of India in a guided meditation in a day
- Maximum nationalities participating in a guided meditation in a day
World Records Union
- The most views for an online guided meditation in 24 hours on YouTube
- The most live viewers of a guided meditation session on YouTube
- The most nationalities participating in an online meditation session
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar addresses the UN at New York. (Source: PR Handout)
The event began at the United Nations and concluded with a live session led by Gurudev from the World Trade Center in New York. Millions joined the live stream, emphasising the widespread interest in meditation as a tool for mindfulness and inner calm.
Speaking before the session, Shankar said: “Meditation is the journey from knowing by thought to feeling what you know. It helps individuals transition from overthinking to experiencing the present moment. Meditation is not inactivity; it supports a balanced, dynamic, and peaceful state of mind.”
According to the press release, the event brought together diverse groups, including farmers, corporate employees, military personnel, healthcare workers, students, and homemakers. Educational institutions for visually impaired children and prisons also participated, highlighting the widespread reach of the initiative.
Public figures, global leaders, and professionals across industries acknowledged the effort, recognising meditation’s relevance in today’s fast-paced world.
As a collective effort, the event marked an important moment in promoting mindfulness on a global scale.
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