World Meditation Day reached an unprecedented scale this year as Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar guided a live, synchronized meditation from New York City. Millions of participants from thousands of cities across 150 countries came together in a shared moment of silence and reflection, making it one of the largest coordinated meditation gatherings ever recorded. In the United States alone, people from 45 states and 133 cities joined the global observance.
Addressing the gathering, Gurudev emphasized the importance of making meditation a daily practice and accessible to every individual, underscoring its potential to contribute to a more peaceful and harmonious society. The event reflected a growing collective awareness of the role inner balance plays in addressing modern challenges.
Among the attendees was Dilip Chauhan, a well-known New York-based civic leader, who participated in the Art of Living ceremony to honor Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Chauhan attended in a personal capacity, continuing his long-standing engagement with cultural and community initiatives. He has previously been instrumental in advancing the recognition of Diwali as a public-school holiday in New York City.
Chauhan’s public service career includes several historic firsts. He was the first Indian American to serve as Deputy Comptroller of Nassau County and later became the first Indian American Deputy Commissioner for Trade, Investment, and Innovation in the New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs. During the ceremony, he presented a U.S. Congressional Recognition to Gurudev on behalf of Congressmember Tom Suozzi, marking a significant moment for the Indian-American community.
The global meditation followed Gurudev’s keynote address at the United Nations on December 19, where he spoke with senior UN leaders, diplomats, and international representatives. His remarks focused on meditation’s role in reducing stress, strengthening emotional resilience, and supporting peacebuilding efforts across diverse cultures. The United Nations’ decision to designate December 21 as World Meditation Day reflects growing international acknowledgment of inner peace as a foundation for collective progress.
This year’s observance also coincided with a major research announcement. At the New York celebration, Gallup and The Art of Living Foundation unveiled a global collaboration to study meditation and wellbeing at scale. Gallup will incorporate meditation-related questions into its World Poll, which has surveyed over 2 million people across more than 140 countries. Findings from this landmark study will be released on World Meditation Day in December 2026, offering data-driven insights to guide wellbeing strategies for leaders and communities worldwide.
