PTI New York / Beijing

From the iconic Times Square in New York to the old Parliament House in Canberra and from the celebrated Moscow Metro to Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, thousands of yoga enthusiasts from across the world commemorated the International Day of Yoga on Saturday.

Recognising the appeal of the Indian spiritual and physical wellness practice, the UN proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in Dec 2014, the draft resolution for which was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states.

At the UN headquarters, eminent physician, author and wellness guru Deepak Chopra led a special guided meditation session as over 1,200 yoga practitioners, diplomats, UN officials, mem­bers of the diplomatic corps and the diaspora community participated in the 11th International Yoga Day event hosted by the Perma­nent Mission of India to the UN.

The Consulate General of India in New York, in partnership with Times Square Alliance, celebrated the 11th International Day of Yoga at Times Square, attended by actor Anupam Kher.

The celebration of Yoga, also known as ‘Solstice at Times Square’, featured seven yoga sessions, in which 10,000 people took part, showcasing widespread enthusiasm for yoga in New York City and the US. In the UK, hundreds of people joined in a series of expert-led asanas and pranayam at the famed square on the Strand in London at the event organised by the High Commission of India in London on Friday evening.

Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami read out a special message from 76-year-old King Charles III, known for his affinity for Yoga, who said this annual celebration “promoted the global principles of unity, compassion and wellbeing.”

Year on year, Yoga is increasing in popularity across the UK, with millions of people in our country reaping its benefits, the monarch said. Indian missions in more than two dozen countries held their IDY events on Saturday. In China, thousands of people participated in several yoga events, signifying the growing popularity of the ancient Indian spiritual and physical practice in the country.

Amid the surging enthusiasm, the Indian mission stopped registration after over 1,500 people registered for the yoga event at the old Indian Embassy complex in Beijing where Indian Ambass­ador to China Pradeep Kumar Rawat led other diplomats in commemorating the day. In Shanghai, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China and a dedicated yoga practitioner, Siddharth Chatt­erjee, was the Chief Guest at the Yoga Day celebrations conducted by the Indian Consulate.

In Singapore, the IDY was held at Supertree Lawn in the central business district with Dinesh Vasu Dash, Singapore’s Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and High Commissioner of India to Singapore Dr Shilpak Ambule in attendance at the event that saw about 300 participants.