PM Modi leads yoga event at UN Headquarters in New York, urges to make 'yoga part of our lives'

Speaking at the event, PM Modi said: "Delighted to take part in the Yoga Day programme at UN Headquarters. Let us make Yoga a part of our lives and further wellness."

"Yoga is free from copyright, patent, royalties… It is a way of life...Yoga is flexible, you can practice alone, group, learn from a teacher or self-taught... It is unifying, it is truly universal. It is for all ethnicities, faith, cultures," he said.

"About nine years ago, right here at the UN, I had the honour to propose celebrating the International Day of Yoga on 21st June," PM Modi said.

"It was wonderful to see the entire world come together to support the idea back then," he said.

The event at the north lawn of the UN building was attended by luminaries from the fields of science, art and entertainment, diplomats, academicians, technocrats and political leaders.

Among them were the New York Mayor, three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej, singer Falguni Shah, actors Richard Gere and Priyanka Chopra and various UN officials.

Michael Empric, Guinness World Records official adjudicator, presented the certificate to Ruchira Kamboj, India's permanent representative to the United Nations, according to Business Today. 

"Today there was a Guinness World Records title attempt for most nationalities in a Yoga lesson. The mark to be was 140 nationalities. Today in New York, at the UN, they have 135. It is a new Guinness world records title," Michael Empric said as quoted..

Later, he would leave for Washington, where the state visit will officially begin.

In Washington, he is scheduled to attend a series of meetings and also address the historic joint session of US Congress.