The yoga celebration led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN headquarters on Wednesday has created a Guinness World Record for the participation of people of most nationalities.
Hundreds of yellow yoga mats were placed on the ground where yoga enthusiasts and practitioners, wearing customised white yoga T-shirts, joined the event.
LED screens playing videos of Indian culture and heritage were set up on the lawn.
"When we do yoga, we feel physically fit, mentally calm and emotionally content. Yoga is a way of life, a way to live in harmony with self, with others and with nature,” Modi told the gathering.
He said he was delighted that many people are working on scientifically validating different aspects of yoga.
"Let us use the power of yoga, not only to be healthy, happy, but also to be kind to ourselves and each other, let us use the power of yoga to build bridges of friendship, of a peaceful world and a cleaner, greener sustainable future," he said.
The historic yoga session was attended by top UN officials, ambassadors, envoys, delegates from member States as well as prominent members of the global and diaspora community.
IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs yoga on the lawn of the UN headquarters, New York. Photograph: PTI Photo
Photograph: PTI Photo
Photograph: PTI Photo
Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: People from various nationalities joined in doing yoga at the UN. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: Modi addresses the gathering. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: Modi with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J Mohammed and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: PM Modi pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi ahead of the Yoga Day celebrations. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: The event saw an enthusiastic participation from the gathering. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: Modi joins children for a group photo session. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: Modi heads to the Yoga Day event. Photograph: ANI Twitter
Photograph: ANI Twitter
Photograph: ANI Twitter
Photograph: ANI Twitter
IMAGE: Modi with other dignitaries arrives to participate in the Yoga Day celebrations. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: LED screens were set up at the venue. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: Modi applauds as India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj shows the Guinness World Records certificate for most nationalities in a yoga session. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: Modi pays tribute at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi before participating in the event. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: Modi pays tribute at the Wall of Peace. Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: Modi greets participants as he arrives at the Yoga Day event. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
IMAGE: Modi embraces actor Richard Gere as they attend the yoga event. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
IMAGE: New York City Mayor Eric Adams is all ears as PM Modi speaks. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
IMAGE: Modi and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) president Csaba Korosi at the event. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com
Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
