Modi leads historic yoga session on UN hq lawns
June 21, 2023 18:35
![image](http://im.rediff.com/news/2023/jun/21live-pm-modi-does-yoga-at-un.jpg)
"We've gathered here at the meeting point of entire humanity. I am delighted to see you all and thank you all for coming.
"I am told that almost every nationality is represented here today.
"Yoga means to unite, so you are coming together is an expression of another form of yoga."
With these words, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a unique yoga session at the UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday in a historic celebration to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga, attended by top UN officials, envoys from across and the world and prominent individuals.
Modi, who is in New York on the first leg of his maiden state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, began the programme by paying respects to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in the North Lawn of the UN headquarters.
he bust was installed in December last year under India's presidency of the UN Security Council.
The prime minister, wearing a especially customised white yoga T-shirts and trouser, led the celebration.
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 at the lawn.
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.