Describing yoga as “truly universal,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
Before making an address, Modi stopped and bowed at a statue of the assassinated Indian independence leader, Mahatma Gandhi. Then, in brief remarks, he expressed gratitude to the individuals present.
Turning to the topic at hand, Modi portrayed yoga as an all-ages, portable practice accessible to all faiths and cultures. “Yoga comes from India and it is a very old tradition. Yoga is free from copyrights, patents and royal payments,” Modi said.
“When we do yoga, we feel physically fit, mentally calm and emotionally content. But it is not just about doing exercise on a mat. Yoga is a way of life,” Modi iterated.
With a checkerboard of made-in-India yoga mats covering the U.N. headquarters’ spacious north lawn, the Indian Prime Minister took his spot on a mat amid the throng of hundreds.
Over the next 35 minutes, he joined in breathing exercises, meditation, backbends and other poses ranging from cobra to corpse pose.
The event honored the International Day of Yoga, which Modi persuaded the U.N. to designate in 2014 as an annual observance.
“Yoga means to unite…I remember about nine years ago, right here, I had the honour to propose celebrating the International Day of Yoga on 21st June. It was wonderful to see the entire world come together to support the idea.”
Narendra Modi
Also, Modi urged for yoga to be used to promote kindness and peaceful relations.
“Let us use the power of yoga, not only to be healthy, happy, but also to be kind to ourselves and to each other. Let us use the power of yoga to build bridges of friendship, a peaceful world, and a cleaner, greener and sustainable future.”
Narendra Modi
Modi arrived in New York on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Modi is slated to head to Washington later Wednesday for an official state visit that includes an Oval Office meeting with President Joe Biden, an address to a joint meeting of Congress and a White House state dinner on Thursday, June 22, 2023.
On Friday, June 23, 2023, Modi is scheduled to have a State Department luncheon hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris, whose mother was born in India, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The visit comes as both U.S and India are interested in strengthening ties.
A Guinness World Record
This year’s version of the International Yoga Day set a Guinness World Record, announced on-scene, for most nationalities; 135 at a yoga lesson.
It drew a multinational crowd which included actor Richard Gere, New York Mayor Eric Adams, U.N. General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi and Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, among other dignitaries.
Ahead of the event, Gere said, “the feeling here is so open and embracing. I hope this feeling intoxicates the entire building.”
People were seen standing in queues outside the UN headquarters to participate in the yoga session since early morning.
Modi acknowledged that this year’s commemoration of International day of yoga was special as researchers at india’s research stations in the Arctic and Antarctica were also participating.
Meanwhile, in his message for yoga day, Antonio Guteress, the UN Secretary-General, said yoga unites “body and mind, humanity and nature, and millions of people across the globe for whom it is a source of strength, harmony and peace.”
Guterres added that he wanted to “recognize Prime Minister Modi for all he has done to promote understanding of yoga and its many benefits.”
