21/12/2025
World Meditation Day – Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
United Nations Designates 21 December as World Meditation Day, Citing Growing Evidence for Meditation in Addressing Stress, Trauma, and Social Strain
PERTH 19 December 2025—
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
United Nations Designates 21 December as World Meditation Day, Citing Growing Evidence for Meditation in Addressing Stress, Trauma, and Social Strain
As global levels of stress, trauma, and fatigue continue to rise amid conflict, economic uncertainty, and climate-related pressures, the United Nations has designated December 21 as World Meditation Day, establishing an annual international event dedicated to promoting peace, mental well-being, and social cohesion.
The designation reflects growing recognition within the U.N. system of meditation-based approaches as practical, evidence-informed tools for reducing stress and supporting resilience. The U.N. System Strategy on Staff Health and Well-being (2024+) identifies meditation-based practices as effective interventions for improving mental health, performance, and resilience—particularly for personnel operating in high-stress and humanitarian environments. In parallel, a 2024–2025 thematic report from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights underscores the relevance of such approaches in conflict-affected settings, where prolonged exposure to trauma and psychological strain is widespread.
In recognition of World Meditation Day, the global Transcendental Meditation® (TM) organization will host a 33-hour synchronized worldwide meditation, spanning more than 100 countries. The event will include introductory talks and educational sessions designed to raise public awareness of the Transcendental Meditation technique, highlighting its simplicity, accessibility, and the body of more than 750 scientific research studies examining its effects on stress reduction, resilience, and overall well-being.
The global meditation will begin at 8:00 a.m. in New Zealand and conclude at 5:00 p.m. in Hawai’i, following the sun across time zones. A total of 33 coordinated meditation sessions, each approximately 20 minutes long, will take place at 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. local time in participating regions worldwide.
Participation is open to people of all backgrounds, faiths, and forms of meditation. Organizers anticipate broad engagement, noting that more than 10 million people worldwide have learned Transcendental Meditation over the past five decades.
During the global event, Tony Nader, MD, PhD, international leader of the Transcendental Meditation organisation, will announce the establishment of large permanent groups of meditators in several locations around the world, a significant milestone in the organization’s decades-long efforts to address global stress and conflict through large-scale group meditation initiatives.
Additional information is available at worldmeditationday.world
Dr. Nader is available for interviews regarding World Meditation Day and the global meditation initiatives.
Media Contact:
Name — Bob Roth
Phone — +1-212-809-7000
Email — rroth@tm.org
Quotes
• ‘World Meditation Day will be marked by a 33-hour synchronized global meditation across more than 100 countries, alongside introductory sessions highlighting the simplicity and scientific research behind Transcendental Meditation.’
• ‘To mark World Meditation Day, a 33-hour worldwide meditation—spanning more than 100 countries—will spotlight the growing scientific evidence supporting Transcendental Meditation.’
• ‘A 33-hour global meditation across 100+ countries will highlight the simplicity and science of Transcendental Meditation in connection with World Meditation Day.
Invitation to every Meditator in the world
WORLD MEDITATION DAY
Participate in a historic 33-hour World Meditation
Sunday, 21 December 2025
at 8:00 am and 5:00 pm in your country*
Dear meditator and friend of meditation,
The United Nations General Assembly has designated 21 December as WORLD MEDITATION DAY.
Be part of the world’s longest, largest, publicly broadcast group meditation by meditating on Sunday, 21 December, at 8:00 am and 5:00 pm your time*. Together we will create a continuous 33-hour wave of meditation, beginning at 8:00 am in New Zealand and concluding after the 5:00 pm meditation in Hawaii.
Ways to participate
1 • Join the group meditation in your local Transcendental Meditation Centre.
TM-Sidhi practitioners may continue their programme after the group meditation.
2 • Meditate individually by joining the YouTube livestream. Invite friends to join you! YouTube livestream link to join us
🌐 Learn more: worldmeditationday.world
📺 Global livestream: youtube.com//streams
“It is so very precious, finding peace and health and wholeness and connection to all humans.” – Marjory
“Returning for my 5:00 meditation, I have carried joy in my heart all day, being a part of this wondrous event has opened my heart. Peace to all” – Roxanno
“Joining this morning’s meditation, transcendence came in a flash! …almost instantaneously, it pervaded the entire meditation period! That was extraordinary for me!” –Sofia
Invitation video by Tony Nader, MD, PhD, MARR
Tony Nader, MD, PhD, MARR, globally recognized Vedic scholar and successor to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi as world head of the Transcendental Meditation organization, explains:
"We hope that not just one million but many millions of people will meditate together this December. The peace we create within ourselves instantly becomes peace for the world.
"Whatever form your meditation takes—mindfulness, prayer, contemplation, Transcendental Meditation, or any silent inward practice—please join us.
"Begin your morning meditation at 8:00 AM, and your evening meditation at 5:00 PM, in your own local time on Sunday, 21 December 2025.
"As the Earth turns, time zone by time zone, our shared silence will sweep across the globe — beginning in New Zealand and traveling westward with the sun. In this way, World Meditation Day will unfold over 33 hours with global meditation. Together, we can awaken coherence in the heart of humanity.”
Governments, spiritual leaders, and practitioners of any meditation system are invited to participate.
Please also share this with your friends and on your social media: WorldMeditationDay.world
In this simple way, a wave of harmony and positivity will circle the planet as we celebrate World Meditation Day together.
Looking forward to celebrating as a united global family.
Jai Guru Dev
