(Reuters) — Thousands of people gathered on International Day of Yoga in New York’s Time Square to take part in a yoga practice for the annual Solstice in Times Square on Sunday (June 21).
“It’s energizing. It’s very different from the normal place that you would take yoga. And being in the middle of all these big buildings, it is just a different energy and really interesting,” said Michael, who attended the event with his family.
The Times Square Alliance has held a yoga event on the summer solstice for more then a dozen years but it is the first International Day of Yoga.
The 193-member U.N. General Assembly approved by consensus a resolution establishing a day to commemorate the ancient practice after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested it to the U.N. last year.
At the United Nations, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon joined hundreds of people at the United Nations visitor plaza to take part in a yoga practice.
“This is a wonderful addition to the United Nations calendar. I commend the His Excellency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the government of India for taking this initiative to spread the practice of yoga far and wide across the world,” Ban Ki-moon said during his keynote address.
“Yoga is already immensely popular around the world. It’s good for your health. It’s good for the spirit. And yoga does not discriminate to varying degrees, all people can practice regardless of their strength, age or ability,” Ban Ki-moon said.
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed yoga with over 35,000 people in the heart of the national capital.
Throughout India, state governments made elaborate arrangements to celebrate the day on the call of Modi.
Over 100,000 camps were set up across the country for people to do yoga in which millions took part. Outside India, about 192 countries are expected to celebrate the day.
