NEW YORK: Over 3,000 People Perform Yoga At Iconic Times Square

NEW YORK: Over 3,000 people spread their
mats at the iconic Times Square and performed Yoga asanas keeping in mind
social distancing guidelines to celebrate the International Yoga Day as the
city opens up following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The
Consulate General of India, New York in partnership with Times Square Alliance
hosted the 7th International Day of Yoga celebrations on Sunday at the popular
city destination, known as the crossroads of the world. The day-long celebration
themed as Solstice Event was attended by more than 3000 people.

The
International Yoga day is commemorated with much enthusiasm and fanfare at
Times Square every year. As the city opened up following the COVID-19 pandemic,
people turned out in huge numbers for the day-long celebration that included
yoga, meditation and exercise sessions by renowned yoga practitioners.

With Yoga
mats spread out keeping in mind social distancing guidelines, people from
various walks of life and nationalities performed Yoga asanas and exercises in
the middle of Times Square, surrounded by its distinctive giant and towering
LED screens as people and tourists stopped to look and participate in the
commemoration.

“While
we celebrate Yoga in various parts of the world, celebrating yoga here in Times
Square is very special, very unique. More importantly, yoga is a universal idea
and universal thought, a universal action. And what better place than Times
Square to celebrate a universal thought. This is the crossroads of the world,”
India’s Consul General Randhir Jaiswal said in his address to the Yoga Day
celebrations here.

Mr
Jaiswal, joined by Deputy Consul General Shatrughna Sinha and senior officials
from the Consulate, as well as members of the Indian diaspora, also participated
in the yoga sessions conducted during the commemoration. Leading Yoga
instructor Ruchika Lal led a Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation session during the
day.

“Yoga
is about health, but it’s also about a lifestyle. Yoga has various
interpretations, dimensions – spirituality, health and philosophy. We must
celebrate yoga today, tomorrow and for all times.

“Yoga
is about health. Yoga is about living in harmony with nature. Yoga is about
unity and togetherness. That is what Times Square represents. And most important
of all, yoga enables you to experience the human self in the deepest
form,” Mr Jaiswal said.

In
keeping with this year’s theme ‘Yoga for Wellness”, the event showcased
holistic health, Ayurvedic and nature based wellness products from Tribes India
(TRIFED) and other Indian companies. The stalls attracted a large number of
visitors, who were eager to learn about the uniqueness of Indian tribal,
Ayurvedic and natural products, the Consulate said.

In the
run-up to the International Yoga Day celebrations on June 21, the Consulate
General in New York, in partnership with Friends of Yoga, had organised several
virtual and in-person yoga events and sessions throughout the month across New
York and neighboring states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The
International Day of Yoga was also celebrated in New Jersey at the Liberty
State Park with the Statue of Liberty in the background. This was a community
led event anchored by the Federation of Indian Associations where renowned yoga
instructor Thara Natalie led the yoga session.