Thousands of yoga lovers gathered at Times Square in New York to participate in day-long yoga sessions on the eve of the International Day Yoga. This event was hosted by the Consulate General of India in New York, in partnership with the Times Square Alliance. They organized special yoga sessions on Thursday, coinciding with the summer solstice, as part of the global celebrations for the International Day of Yoga, observed annually on June 21.
🧘🏻♀️Thousands of yoga enthusiasts braved a heatwave and gathered to practice yoga at Times Square in New York to celebrate the summer solstice pic.twitter.com/TM9Yk88wSO
— Reuters Asia (@ReutersAsia) June 21, 2024
Despite the high temperatures, which soared to 93°F (33.8°C), people from various backgrounds and nationalities arrived early in the morning. They laid out their yoga mats in the bustling heart of New York City. Richa Dhekne, a seasoned yoga instructor and Breath Meditation teacher with over twenty years of experience with the Art of Living Foundation, led a session hosted by the Consulate General of India. Throughout the day, other yoga experts conducted multiple sessions involving meditation, exercises, and breathing techniques.
The Consul General of India in New York, Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, expressed enthusiasm about the diverse participation, stating, “As you can see, we have yoga participants from several nationalities, and this is going to go on for the entire day today.” He noted that they anticipated around 8,000-10,000 participants and highlighted that the theme for the 2024 Yoga Day is ‘Yoga for Self and Society’.
@IndiainNewYork celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga at the iconic @TimesSquareNYC!
The day-long celebration of Solstice at @TimesSquareNYC featured seven yoga sessions, in which about 10,000 people from across nationalities participated, showcasing the widespread… pic.twitter.com/psro1SKho2
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) June 20, 2024
Pradhan added, “I’m sure this is going to inspire everybody participating here today, and around other different parts of the United States.” The Consulate shared on social media, celebrating the 10th International Day of Yoga at the iconic Times Square. They mentioned that the day-long solstice celebration featured seven yoga sessions, with about 10,000 people from different nationalities participating, showcasing the widespread enthusiasm for yoga in the city.
#WATCH | New York: On International Yoga Day 2024, Binaya Pradhan, Consul General of India, New York says, “Today we are celebrating International Yoga Day at Times Square. We have yoga participants from several nationalities and this is going to go on for the entire day. Today… pic.twitter.com/kaJGVvGECG
— ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2024
Pradhan greeted the participants, emphasizing the benefits of yoga for both physical health and spiritual well-being. He highlighted its role in promoting harmony with nature. The event saw the involvement of officials and staff from the Indian Consulate, along with members of the Indian diaspora. In the lead-up to Yoga Day, the Consulate and partner associations organized several yoga sessions, including one at Bryant Park near the New York Public Library and a special session for women at Central Park, led by Swami Brahmanishthananda.
The celebration at Times Square was a vibrant display of unity and health, bringing together thousands of individuals to honor the ancient Indian practice of yoga.