Solstice Day began in Times Square with a gathering of people engaging in the ancient Indian practice of yoga. The event, sponsored by the Indian Consulate General, marked the International Day of Yoga and featured yoga sessions throughout the day and into the night. HR Nagendra, the chancellor of Vivekananda Yoga University, inaugurated the program, conveying greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji.
Thousands of visitors crowded Times Square on Sunday morning for the day-long event named “Mind Over Madness,” observing participants performing yoga poses on various stages. Ruchika Lal from the Art of Living Foundation led the first session, with yoga sessions scheduled every other hour for registered participants. The celebration was co-hosted by the Consulate General and the Times Square Alliance.
New Yorkers, representing diverse nationalities and backgrounds, have embraced yoga, evident in the city’s numerous yoga studios and classes. The Square, bustling with tourists even on a Sunday, provided a serene setting for the event. The Times Square Alliance, known for entertainment and commerce, transformed the area into a Yoga Village, promoting the holistic lifestyle benefits of yoga.
Douglass Stewart, co-founder of Summer Solstice — Yoga in Times Square, emphasized the harmony and positivity that yoga brings, aligning with the spirit of the International Day of Yoga established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. The event aimed to foster a sense of calmness amidst the city’s hustle and bustle, resonating with the essence of yoga.
