Yoga Day celebrations at UN to be broadcast at Times Square

The International Yoga Day celebrations at United Nations will be broadcast at Times Square. The UN will commemorate the inaugural function on the International Yoga Day on June 21 with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and General Assembly President, Sam Kutesa gracing the occasion. External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj will preside over the celebrations. The India-led celebrations will also feature a special lecture and demonstration by Art of Living founder Sri Ravi Shankar. According to the Indian mission to the UN, another celebration of the Solstice Day would be observed at Times Square on the day with thousands performing yoga exercises. Several Indian-American and other ethnic organisations have joined hands to commemorate the first yoga day here. Overseas Volunteers for Better India (OVBI) will be organising Yogathon events across 100 US cities and more than 70 organisations have joined the campaign. The UN General Assembly had last year overwhelmingly adopted a draft resolution, declaring June 21 as International Yoga Day. In Dubai, as a prelude to International Yoga Day, Yoga enthusiasts, joggers and other fitness freaks have been allowed early morning access to parks and other facilities without an entry fee. Mohammed Al Fardan, the head of Parks and Horticulture Department of the Dubai Municipality addressing a press conference said, we understand the need to encourage physical activities such as yoga, Tai Chi, and Art of Living.