In photos: How Indians are marking International Yoga Day 2019

Getting fit.
Getting fit.
Image: AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool
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From politicians to fitness enthusiast and army personnel, hundreds of Indians practiced Yoga today (June 21) at gatherings organised across the country.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, a yoga enthusiast himself, led a mega event in Ranchi, Jharkhand, to celebrate the fifth edition of International Day of Yoga. “I want to make Yoga part of (the) lives of all the poor people… Diseases make a poor person poorer; I want to take Yoga from cities to the villages, to the jungles, to the poor and the adivasis (tribals),” Modi said while addressing a crowd of about 30,000 people at the Yoga day event.

In 2015, when it was first observed, over 35,000 people, including Modi, and dignitaries from 84 nations, performed 21 asanas (bodily postures) for 35 minutes on Rajpath in New Delhi. Last year, Modi was in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, for the occasion.

Here are some scenes from Yoga Day 2019 celebrations in India:

Indian sex workers wear masks and perform yoga in Mumbai.
Indian sex workers wear masks and perform yoga in Mumbai.
Image: AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool

The discipline of Yoga is based on breath control, meditation, and asanas, and its roots are traced to the Indus Valley civilisation. It was first introduced to the west by Hindu reformer Swami Vivekananda towards the end of the 19th century.

Since then, yoga has evolved into many forms. Wheels, hammocks, and bricks are among the many props used in its practice. Over two decades ago, Madan Kataria, a physician from Mumbai, launched the first laughter yoga club and the phenomenon has since spread across the world. There are also some outlandish versions like goat yoga or beer yoga.

Preparations for this year’s Yoga Day celebrations had started days ahead at schools and offices in India and at Indian embassies around the world.

Students attend a yoga class at a school in Ahmedabad, India, ahead of the International Yoga Day.
Students attend a yoga class at a school in Ahmedabad, India, ahead of the International Yoga Day.
Image: Reuters/Amit Dave
A yoga session at a school in Ahmedabad.
A yoga session at a school in Ahmedabad.
Image: Reuters/Amit Dave
Students make a formation of International Cricket Council World Cup trophy to cheer their team as they perform yoga at a school in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Students make a formation of International Cricket Council World Cup trophy to cheer their team as they perform yoga at a school in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Image: Reuters/P. Ravikumar
A view of Jeddah Corniche, with the iconic King Fahd Fountain in the background.
A view of Jeddah Corniche, with the iconic King Fahd Fountain in the background.
Image: Twitter/India in Jeddah
Eiffel Tower, Paris.
Eiffel Tower, Paris.
Image: Twitter/India in France
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town.
Image: Twitter/India in Cape Town
Tomislav Square, Zagreb, Croatia.
Tomislav Square, Zagreb, Croatia.
Image: Twitter/India in Croatia
Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Image: Twitter/India in UAE
The Hague.
The Hague.
Image: Ministry of External Affairs
Singapore.
Singapore.
Image: Ministry of External Affairs