US Ambassador Richard Verma celebrates International Yoga Day at Rajpath

New Delhi: US Ambassador to India Richard Verma was among scores of diplomats who attended the mega event at Rajpath on International Yoga Day. According to sources, there was a large presence of international diplomats among the 35,000 people who took part in the event.

Mr Verma, who later posed for a picture with Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, also practised simpler forms of ancient Indian exercise regime at the event, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who practised yoga and addressed the gathering.

External Affairs Minister had invited diplomats from 152 foreign missions in the country for the mega event. While top envoys of all the missions could not participate in the celebrations at Rajpath, representatives of many missions were present for the event, sources said.

The day was observed in over 251 cities in 191 countries across the world and the Indian missions and diplomatic posts have made arrangements for the celebrations and other related events.

The yoga celebrations are being held in the national capital after the United Nations had in December last year declared June 21 as International Yoga Day, with 177 countries voting in favour.

The Prime Minister had mooted the proposal during his first address to the UN General Assembly in September last year.