In this photograph released by the Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB) on June 21, 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes part in a yoga demonstration at the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh. PHOTO: AFP
Across India, schoolchildren, sailors, soldiers and bureaucrats bent and twisted their bodies from early morning at mass outdoor sessions to mark the second International Yoga Day.
Glimpses from the #IDY2016 celebrations in Chandigarh. #YogaDay pic.twitter.com/oAFiIfyKFG
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2016
India bends it like Modi on first World Yoga Day
Sessions were also held around the world including at the Sydney Opera House where colourful mats were spread outside the Australian landmark, while Afghans and foreigners gathered at the Indian embassy in Kabul.
Yoga-loving Modi, dressed in a white tracksuit, led more than 30,000 people in the northern city of Chandigarh where they performed poses and conducted breathing exercises at the outdoor Capitol Complex.
These Divyang friends are the pride of the #IDY2016 celebrations. Spent time with them in Chandigarh. #YogaDay pic.twitter.com/gDTVKcSj5q
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2016
"Do not wait, make yoga a part of your life," Modi urged in a brief speech to mark the event, an idea he successfully asked the United Nations to adopt.
"This is a day linked with good health and now it has become a people's mass movement," the 65-year-old premier said.
Modi brings out the yogi in him
Modi took a short break to inspect the poses of his fellow yogis, who included students and soldiers, before returning to his spot.
His ministers were also dispatched to cities around India to stretch and bend alongside schoolchildren, while the navy tweeted photos of sailors on mats atop an aircraft carrier in Mumbai.
Together for Oneness! 30,000 + people joined PM for #YogaDay at Capitol Complex in Chandigarh today morning pic.twitter.com/lhb6GQwhcX
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2016
Modi, who credits yoga for his ability to work long hours on little sleep, has been spearheading an initiative to reclaim the practice as a historic part of Indian culture after his Hindu nationalist government came to power in 2014.
PM @narendramodi at #YogaDay celebrations: Connect life to yoga, yoga to life! pic.twitter.com/9sZbqJTHvx
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2016
A day committed to holistic health. PM @narendramodi says yoga is not just 4 fitness but also for wellness #YogaDay pic.twitter.com/YvG7SpsDNq
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2016
Celebrating India's ancient gift to the world. PM @narendramodi leads #YogaDay with mass event in Chandigarh pic.twitter.com/HwRY3Cx8TV
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2016
In his home state of Gujarat, more than 1,700 pregnant women performed the camel, cobra and other poses in hopes of setting a new world record, a local official said.
"The previous record was 930 pregnant women performing yoga simultaneously in China in 2009... we have submitted all documents to the officials of Guinness World Records who were here to evaluate the record," district collector Vikrant Pandey told AFP.
Modi last year led some 35,000 people in New Delhi to mark the first world yoga day, setting two world records -- one for the largest yoga class at a single site and another for the greatest number of nationalities attending.
Indian scholars believe yoga dates back 5,000 years, based on archaeological evidence of poses found inscribed on stones and references to Yogic teachings in the ancient Hindu scriptures of the Vedas.
Since taking office, the premier has set up a ministry dedicated to promoting yoga and traditional Indian treatments, and started free lessons for his government's three million bureaucrats and their families.
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