See Yoga From Around the World for the International Day of Yoga

  • Four thousand and one Indian schoolchildren participate in a yoga session on the eve of International Yoga Day at a school in Chennai, India, on June 20, 2016.
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  • People practice yoga ahead of the International Day of Yoga, on the outskirts of Beijing, China, June 20, 2016.
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  • Participants perform Yoga during the rehearsals for the upcoming International Yoga Day at Rajpath in New Delhi, India, on June 19, 2016.
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  • Indian Army soldiers participate in a yoga demonstration on International Yoga Day in Chennai, India, on June 21, 2016.
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  • People perform yoga to mark International Day of Yoga in Seoul, South Korea, on June 21, 2016.
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  • Thousands gather for a group yoga class in front of the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, on June 21, 2016.
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  • Indian yoga practitioners take part in a yoga session in a swimming pool on International Yoga Day in Jodhpur, India, on June 21, 2016.
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  • People participate in a group yoga class in Times Square as part of the 14th annual 'Solstice in Times Square: Mind Over Madness Yoga' to mark the summer solstice in New York, New York, June 20, 2016.
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  • People perform yoga exercises during an event to mark the International Day of Yoga in Kathmandu, Nepal on June 21, 2016.
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  • Indian yoga practitioners participate in a mass yoga session on International Yoga Day in New Delhi, India, on June 21, 2016.
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  • Indian yoga enthusiasts perform during a rehearsal for an event on the outskirts of Amritsar, India, on the eve of International Yoga Day, June 20, 2016.
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  • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participates in a mass yoga session along with other Indian yoga practitioners to mark the 2nd International Yoga Day at Captol complex in Chandigarh, India, on June 21, 2016.
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  • Indians holds hands as they attempt to create a record for the longest human yoga chain with more than 8000 participants at an event to celebrate International Yoga Day in Ahmadabad, India, June 21, 2016.
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  • People perform yoga exercises during an event to mark the World Yoga Day 2016 at Bakirkoy Botanik Park in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 21, 2016.
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By Marisa Gertz

In 2014, the United Nations declared June 21st, the summer solstice, as the International Day of Yoga. Ahead of the second annual celebration, yoga enthusiasts got together in mass gatherings around the world, from New Delhi to New York City.

The summer solstice has special significance in the yogic tradition. It is said that it was on the summer solstice that Adiyogi, the first yogi, met his disciples, who would go on to introduce and disperse the knowledge of yoga to the world.

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in his call for the recognition of the day, said “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature.”

Appropriately, Modi, himself, participated in a mass yoga session on June 21st in Chandigarh, India.

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