World Meditation Day Observed in New York with Global Call for Inner Peace and Calm
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar leads global synchronized meditation in New York on World Meditation Day.
Hundreds of participants gathered in Lower Manhattan while millions tuned in online to observe the second World Meditation Day, led by Art of Living founder Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The event aimed to highlight meditation as a tool for mental wellbeing, resilience, and peace amid rising global stress levels.
Over 600 attendees participated in person, with speakers emphasizing the symbolic and practical importance of meditation in today’s fast-paced world. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar guided participants to focus on their breath and body, explaining that meditation does not require eliminating desires but simply observing thoughts and sensations without resistance.
Describing meditation as “a journey from sound to silence, from limited to unlimited awareness,” he encouraged attendees to embrace inner stillness and incorporate daily practice into their lives. The contrast between the calm inside the hall and the bustling streets outside highlighted the growing need for mindfulness in urban environments.
Also Read: Indian Student From Telangana Dies in Tragic New York House Fire
A major announcement during the event revealed a partnership between Art of Living and Gallup to track meditation and wellbeing metrics across 140 countries. Organizers noted participation from over 130 cities and nearly 50 official city proclamations recognizing the benefits of meditation for mental health and societal harmony.
Congressional recognitions were presented to acknowledge Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s decades-long work in meditation, stress management, and humanitarian service. Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi read a proclamation designating December 21 as World Meditation Day, calling meditation a practical tool for peace and mental wellbeing.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar concluded by urging participants to act as “ambassadors for meditation,” advocating its integration in schools, homes, and communities. He emphasized that meditation is no longer a luxury but a necessity, linking individual calm to broader social and national harmony, reinforcing the UN’s designation of World Meditation Day as a platform for global mental wellness.
Also Read: Netanyahu Says He Will Visit New York Despite Zohran Mamdani’s Arrest Threat
