Strike a pose: International Yoga Day stretches around world

NEW DELHI: Downward-facing dogs, cobras and warriors sprouted all over Asia yesterday, including high in the Himalayas, up in the air and under the sea, for International Yoga Day, reports AFP. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose proposal for the global event won UN approval in 2014, led the way, performing his asanas with over 50,000 others in the northern city of Dehradun.

People there gathered at a sprawling forest research institute—snakes and monkeys were removed in advance—as far as they eye could see before dawn for the communal session involving the yoga-mad premier, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

“Instead of dividing, Yoga unites. Instead of further animosity, Yoga assimilates. Instead of increasing suffering, Yoga heals,” Modi said on Twitter.

Other gatherings took place across New Delhi with 10,000 enthusiasts registered as well as more than 5,000 events across from the country including in Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Patna. In the capital several hundred braved unhealthy pollution levels and hot and humid weather to lay out their mats in the Lodi Gardens park amid the Mughal tombs.

“Yoga basically comes from India, and now it’s celebrated all over the world. So now the world knows the power of yoga,” participant Sidharth Singh, 23, told AFP.

The largest was in Mysore in the south with more than 60,000 aficionados strutting their stuff, organisers said.

There was also floating yoga on board the Japanese naval ship JS Ise and on the Indian Navy’s INS Sahyadri, both taking part in military exercises in the Pacific, the Indian Navy said.

Below the surface, photos released by the Indian military showed a submarine crew joining in, while the Air Force tweeted photos of skydiving parachute instructors in yoga poses as they tumbled to Earth.

Even higher though were members of the Indo-Tibetan border police, going through their moves on a bleak and freezing Himalayan desert plateau 18,000 feet (5,500 metres) above sea level.Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik meanwhile created a special sand sculpture with the message “Yoga for Peace and Harmony” on a beach in the eastern city of Puri.

It featured Modi, US President Donald Trump, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un all in the lotus position.

Strike a pose: International Yoga Day stretches around world

NEW DELHI: Downward-facing dogs, cobras and warriors sprouted all over Asia yesterday, including high in the Himalayas, up in the air and under the sea, for International Yoga Day, reports AFP. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose proposal for the global event won UN approval in 2014, led the way, performing his asanas with over 50,000 others in the northern city of Dehradun. People there gathered at a sprawling forest research institutesnakes and monkeys were removed in advanceas far as they eye could see before dawn for the communal session involving the yoga-mad premier, an AFP reporter at the scene said. Instead of dividing, Yoga unites. Instead of further animosity, Yoga assimilates. Instead of increasing suffering, Yoga heals, Modi said on Twitter. Other gatherings took place across New Delhi with 10,000 enthusiasts registered as well as more than 5,000 events across from the country including in Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Patna. In the capital several hundred braved unhealthy pollution levels and hot and humid weather to lay out their mats in the Lodi Gardens park amid the Mughal tombs. Yoga basically comes from India, and now its celebrated all over the world. So now the world knows the power of yoga, participant Sidharth Singh, 23, told AFP. The largest was in Mysore in the south with more than 60,000 aficionados strutting their stuff, organisers said. There was also floating yoga on board the Japanese naval ship JS Ise and on the Indian Navys INS Sahyadri, both taking part in military exercises in the Pacific, the Indian Navy said. Below the surface, photos released by the Indian military showed a submarine crew joining in, while the Air Force tweeted photos of skydiving parachute instructors in yoga poses as they tumbled to Earth. Even higher though were members of the Indo-Tibetan border police, going through their moves on a bleak and freezing Himalayan desert plateau 18,000 feet (5,500 metres) above sea level.Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik meanwhile created a special sand sculpture with the message Yoga for Peace and Harmony on a beach in the eastern city of Puri. It featured Modi, US President Donald Trump, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un all in the lotus position.