- On the 1st World Meditation Day, Gurudev led an estimated 8.5 million people into meditation online, offline and through TV broadcasts globally.
- Event ‘World Meditates With Gurudev’ Breaks World Record for the Largest Meditation Gathering!
Bengaluru, Saturday, 21st December: A historic milestone was achieved as the event ‘World Meditates with Gurudev’ shattered records, earning a place in the Guinness World Records, the Asia Book of Records and World Records Union. This monumental event, organized by the Art of Living Foundation, brought together millions from across the globe, setting a new benchmark for collective meditation.
The first World Meditation Day marked an unparalleled celebration of unity and inner peace. With participants tuning in from over 180 countries, the event showcased the transformative power of meditation as a global movement. Starting with the inaugural event at the United Nations and culminating in a live session led by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar from atop of the World Trade Center (New York), the day witnessed a wave of meditation sweeping across continents.
List of Records Broken:
Guinness World Record
• The most viewers of a guided meditation live stream on YouTube
Asia Book of Records
• Maximum Participation from all the States of India in Guided Meditation in a Day
• Maximum nationalities participated in Guided Meditation in a Day
World Records Union
• The record for the most views for an online guided meditation in 24 hours on YouTube
• The record for the most live viewers of a guided meditation session on YouTube
• The record for the most nationalities participating in an online meditation session
The meditation session led by Gurudev was streamed live, with millions joining virtually and even physically in large groups to meditate for global peace and harmony. Before leading everyone into meditation Gurudev explained the meaning of meditation, “Meditation is the journey from knowing by thought to feeling what you know. To meditate you need to first go from too much thinking to feeling what is. And then go beyond the feeling towards the inner space. If you want to be sane, sensitive and sensible, you need to meditate. Meditation is not inactivity. It makes you more dynamic and peaceful. Even to be a revolutionary, you need to meditate.”
The Art of Living’s initiative has been praised by global leaders, celebrities, sportsperson, professionals and people from all walks of life and age groups. The event also garnered significant participation from farmers, educational institutions including those for visually repaired children, corporates, members of the military, health caregivers, researchers and scientists, homemakers, people of indigenous origins and even prisons, demonstrating meditation’s universal appeal and impact. The world united in a shared moment of peace and harmony.
The resounding response and global participation of ‘World Meditates with Gurudev’ highlights the transformative power of collective meditation. With this monumental effort, the Art of Living has not only united millions in meditation but also inspired a global movement for inner peace and universal harmony.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s U.N. Address Marks First World Meditation Day
On December 21st, 2024, the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations hosted a historic event at the UN Headquarters, marking the first-ever World Meditation Day with the theme ‘Meditation for Global Peace and Harmony.’ The gathering was addressed by distinguished dignitaries, including Mr. Philémon Yang, President of the United Nations General Assembly; Mr. Parvathaneni Harish, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations; Mr. Atul Khare, UN Under-Secretary-General; Mr. Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, Charge d’Affaires of Sri Lanka’s Permanent Mission to the UN; and Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
The event concluded with a keynote address and a meditation by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Addressing the gathering, Gurudev highlighted the profound impact of meditation as a powerful tool for global peace and unity. He shared, “One calm and serene mind can create a better environment for hundreds of others,” calling on individuals and nations to embrace meditation for collective well-being, harmony, and spiritual growth. He stressed the urgency of incorporating meditation into everyday life. “Meditation must reach every home, every individual, as a means to combat modern-day challenges such as anxiety, domestic violence, and addiction. It transcends religions, geographical boundaries, and age groups, making it universally relevant. So if every nation focuses a little on educating people about relaxation and managing their emotions, the world would be a much better place.”
This landmark occasion marked the beginning of an annual observance, with World Meditation Day set to be celebrated every year on December 21st.
Prominent Public Figures show support for World Meditation Day
The event was warmly received by many prominent figures. Indian film director and editor, Rajkumar Hirani, shared, “It is fitting that the UN is recognising the transformative power of this ancient practice by commemorating 21 December as World Meditation Day, and who better than Gurudev to lead this initiative.” Actress and Member of Parliament, Hema Malini, expressed her pride in India’s contribution to this global event, stating, “It is a matter of great pride for India that the United Nations has declared December 21 as World Meditation Day. Meditation brings me immense peace, and I recommend it to everyone as a daily practice.” British rapper Zuby also highlighted the relevance of meditation in today’s world, saying, “In times of conflict and uncertainty, meditation is a path to mental peace.”; and encouraging all his followers to join the World Meditation Day Celebrations with Gurudev.
Global Participation
In celebration of World Meditation Day, the world united in meditation. Starting in Australia, a global wave of meditation spread across the world, touching over 100 locations. Following the inaugural event at the United Nations, embassies in Malaysia and Laos in the Far East hosted Art of Living meditation programs, while educational institutions, corporates, media houses, farmer groups, and even prisons in India joined in. The wave extended to conflict-ridden regions of the Middle East, culminating in a live meditation session led by Gurudev at 8 PM IST on YouTube from the iconic World Trade Center. Once the site of unimaginable tragedy on 9/11, this landmark now stands as a beacon of peace and hope.
Art of Living Dubai Hosts a Historic World Meditation Day Event.
Dubai witnessed a historic gathering as 300 people united for the first-ever World Meditation Day at One Central, overlooking the iconic Museum of the Future. Organized by Art of Living Dubai, this landmark event celebrated the global call for peace and serenity, aligning with the United Nations’ declaration of December 21 as World Meditation Day.
Participants from diverse cultures and languages came together, embodying the shared intention of global harmony. The evening featured a serene meditation session guided by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, creating an atmosphere of profound stillness and connection.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Global Impact – A Peace Envoy
Gurudev’s unwavering vision of promoting peace through meditation has impacted millions worldwide. Through his teachings, he has shown how meditation can transform both individuals and society for the better. For over 43 years, Gurudev has blended Vedic wisdom with modern-day relevance, inspiring millions in 182 countries to embrace meditation. His global initiatives have touched over 800 million lives and engaged over one million volunteers in service projects across 182 countries, advancing his mission of creating a compassionate, peaceful world.
Guided by the belief that inner peace leads to global change, Gurudev’s vision remains clear; to bring “a smile to every face” and create a stress-free, violence-free world.
Event Details:
What: World Meditates with Gurudev
When: Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 8:00 PM IST
Where: World Meditation Day Livestream on Youtube Channel @gurudev
