NEW YORK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is in the United States of America on a state visit, in the first leg of his maiden state, today led a Yoga celebration session at the United Nations headquarters in New York and the event created a Guinness World Record for the participation of people of most nationalities.

Participants and yoga enthusiasts from nearly 135 countries joined PM Modi with Hollywood actor Richard Gere and President of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly Csaba Korisi, deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. All of them including PM Modi were wearing customised white yoga T-shirts by his side and did yoga on yellow yoga mats that had been placed on the lawns.

During the occasion PM Modi said that yoga was a way of life and not just about doing some exercise on a mat. "It is a very old tradition but it is also living and dynamic which keeps us fit, calm and emotionally content, he said adding that although yoga has its origins in India, it is universal in the true sense and meant for everyone.

"Yoga is free from any patent and any royalty payments," PM Modi added and also tweeted, "Incredible! #YogaDay brought together yoga enthusiasts at the @UN HQ, setting a new Guinness World Record. This is Yoga's unifying power in action, exemplifying ‘Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ - the world is indeed one family. A milestone moment for the Yoga lovers." He also tweeted several photographs of the event which has seen record views and positive comments. 

In an event after the yoga session, PM Modi applauded the record fete as India's permanent representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj received the Guinness World Records certificate.