Foreigners join International Yoga Day event in Delhi

NEW DELHI: A number of foreign nationals, including diplomats, today rolled out their yoga mats at Rajpath adding an international flavour to the mega Yoga Day event that is likely to set a world record.

These participants, a bulk of whom were from Sri Sri Ravishankar's Bangalore-based Art of Living Foundation, were visibly excited to be part of the event and stressed on the benefits of Yoga.

"It was really amazing to be part of this big event and I am really happy that (Narendra) Modiji is popularising Yoga in such a way that the whole world can benefit," Plakor, a Croatian national, said.

Derva Dilver from Turkey was enthralled by the sheer magnitude of the event as she looked in awe at the country's premier boulevard dotted by a sea of white caps.

"It was good to see so many people doing Yoga together. Yoga opens up the mind and through this practise a person can focus within to become a better human being," she said.

For Japanese yoga trainer Kazuyuki Miura it was a special occasion as he stressed that the ancient practise would get more traction by the sheer publicity generated by the event.

"We have already been practising this ancient knowledge in Bangalore. We came specially for this event which is aimed at spreading Yoga globally and it feels good to be part of this historic occasion," he said.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had invited diplomats from 152 foreign missions in the country for the mega event.

The day was observed in over 251 cities in 191 countries across the world and the Indian missions and diplomatic posts have made arrangements for the celebrations and other related events.

The yoga celebrations are being held in the national capital after the United Nations had in December last year declared June 21 as International Yoga Day, with 177 countries voting in favour.

The proposal had been mooted by the Prime Minister during his first address to the UN General Assembly in September last year.