Yoga enthusiasts gather at UN Headquarters setting world record
Yoga is a very old tradition from India, which is absolutely free of copyrights, patents and royalty payments: Prime Minister Narendra Modi before leading a special Yoga session at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday.
President Csaba Korosi, along with India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj and Mayor of New York City Eric Adams, greeted and addressed an event on the 9th edition of International Day of Yoga, welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrived to lead a special Yoga session at the UN headquarters.
The event witnessed an overwhelming response from thousands of yoga enthusiasts from over 135 nationalities, setting a Guinness World Record for participation by maximum number of nationalities in a Yoga session. A video message by UN Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres was played as well.
The theme for this year is ‘Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth · One Family · One Future”. Addressing the special event, PM Modi said, “On this fine morning, we are gathered here at the UN at the meeting point of the entire humanity. In this wonderful city of New York. I know many people have come from very far. I thank them. I am told that almost every nationality is represented here today. Yoga means to unite, so your coming together is an expression of another form of Yoga.”
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“I remember nine years ago, exactly here I had the honour to propose celebrating International Yoga Day on June 21,” he added. “Yoga comes from India, it is a very old tradition. Yoga is free of copyrights, patents and royalty payments. Yoga is adaptable to your age, gender and fitness level. Yoga is portable and is truly universal,” PM Modi added.
He said Yoga is “portable” as it could be practised at home, at work or in transit. “It is also flexible as it can be practised alone. Do it in a group or learn from the teacher,” PM Modi said.
“Yoga is a way of life. It is a way to mindfulness in thought and action, a way to live in harmony with self, with others and with nature. I am delighted that many of you are working on scientifically validating the values of yoga,” he added.
“The function saw attendance by personalities and influencers from all walks of life including diplomats, officials, academicians, health professionals, technocrats, industry leaders, media personalities, artists, spiritual leaders, and yoga practitioners, among others.
