Modi leads yoga class at UN as he extends diplomatic reach on US visit

Indian Prime Minister persuaded world body to designate June 21 as International Day of Yoga in 2014

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a flexible approach to diplomacy in New York, where he led a yoga session for hundreds of practitioners outside the UN on Wednesday.

“Let us use the power of yoga not only to be healthy, happy, but also to be kind to ourselves and to each other,” the Indian leader said at the event celebrating International Yoga Day on the north lawn of the UN headquarters.

The yoga lesson was attended by actor Richard Gere, New York Mayor Eric Adams, UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi and Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed, among other dignitaries.

Mr Modi was in New York ahead of a visit to Washington. He will have formal meetings at the White House with President Joe Biden on Thursday followed by a vegetarian state dinner.

Mr Modi is a devout Hindu and is a vegetarian who practises yoga daily. He hailed the discipline as universally accessible and in 2014 persuaded the UN to designate June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

“When we do yoga, we feel physically fit, mentally calm and emotionally content. But it is not just about doing exercise on a mat,” Mr Modi said. “Yoga is a way of life.”

Before his speech, Mr Modi expressed his reverence in front of a statue honouring Mahatma Gandhi, the heroic figure of Indian independence.

Over the next 35 minutes, he joined in breathing exercises, meditation, backbends and other poses ranging from cobra to corpse, as a cloud-filtered sun glinted off the adjacent East River and the flags of the world body’s member nations rippled in the breeze.

In a video message, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres extended his appreciation to Mr Modi for his efforts in promoting the understanding of yoga and its numerous benefits.

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  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at a lunch held in his honor hosted by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department. Reuters

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  In a toast, Ms. Harris spoke of her Indian-born late mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who came to the United States at age 19 and became a leading breast cancer researcher. AP Photo

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  US President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with Mr. Modi and American and Indian business leaders in the East Room of the White House. From left, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, Mr. Modi, Mr. Biden, and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. AP Photo

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  Sunita Williams, NASA astronaut, left, listens as Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, right, speaks during the meeting. AP Photo

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  Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, is also present. AP Photo

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  President Joe Biden talks with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a state dinner at the White House in Washington. AP

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  Doug Emhoff, US second gentleman, third left, attends the official state dinner. AFP

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  Mr Biden, Mr Modi and first lady Jill Biden at the Grand Staircase of the White House. EPA

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  The Bidens and Mr Modi arrive for a state dinner. AP

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  Mr Modi addresses a joint session of the US Congress. AP

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  Mr Modi speaks to the Congress. AFP

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  Mr Modi speaks to a joint session of the US Congress. AP

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  Mr Biden and Mr Modi speak during a joint press conferences in the East Room of the White House in Washington. AFP

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  Mr Modi and Mr Biden are expected to announce a series of defence and commercial deals designed to improve military and economic ties. Bloomberg

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  Mr Biden speaks at the news conference at the White House. Bloomberg

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  Mr Biden and Mr Modi speak in the Oval Office of the White House. EPA

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  Mr Biden walks with Mr Modi at the White House during the Indian Prime Minister's official visit to Washington. Reuters

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  Mr Modi is welcomed to the White House. EPA

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  Mr Biden, first lady Jill Biden and Mr Modi attend an official state arrival ceremony at the White House. Reuters

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  Mr Modi speaks from the South Lawn. He is in the US on a four-day state visit. AP

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  Mr Modi and Mr Biden watch a performance by the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. AP

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  Mr Modi has said ties between the countries are 'one of the defining relationships of the 21st century'. AP

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  Mr Biden greets Mr Modi in Washington. AP

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  Indian Americans gather for the visit. AP

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  US Vice President Kamala Harris, right, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, second left, were among the senior officials at the event. Reuters

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  Mr Biden and Mr Modi exchange gifts at the White House. Reuters

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  A child raises a homemade poster in front of the UN headquarters in New York to welcome Mr Modi. AFP

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  People gather near UN headquarters to welcome Mr Modi. AP

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  Mr Modi attends a yoga event on the International Day of Yoga, hosted at the UN. AFP

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  Mr Modi, seen on screen, leads a yoga session. AFP

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  Mr Modi waves to the crowd after participating in a yoga class. EPA

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  Mr Modi gestures to participants as he arrives at the ninth International Day of Yoga event. Reuters

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  Mr Modi shakes hand with Tesla chief executive Elon Musk during their meeting in New York. Reuters

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  Mr Modi greets supporters as he arrives in New York. AP

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  Supporters dance ahead of the arrival of Mr Modi in New York. Reuters

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  The flags of India and the US adorn the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington. AP