WATCH | International Yoga Day: Postures of 'Surya Namaskar' lights up UN Headquarters

United Nations headquarters was lit up with postures of "Surya Namaskar" and mess of "Yoga for Climate Action" as India's Permanent Mission to UN kick-started its celebrations for 5th International Day of Yoga.

On a foggy and rainy evening on Wednesday, yoga postures were projected on rth Facade of UN Headquarters Building during a special ceremony attended by India's Permanent Representative to UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador K Nagaraj Naidu and diplomats and officials from Indian mission.

rth Facade of UN Secretariat building was awash with "Surya Namaskar" or "Sun Salutation" postures projected against a colourful background.

Surya Namaskar is one of most popular and significant yoga exercises, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeting about its benefits in a special video made for occasion of Yoga Day this year.

"Have you made Surya Namaskar a part of your routine? Do watch this video to kw why it is a good idea to do so and advants that come with regularly practising it. #YogaDay2019," PM Modi said in a tweet.

Read: IN PICTURES | See Breath-taking Ims Of Soldiers From Battle Axe Division Performing Yoga And Pranayam On Vast And Endless Sand Dunes Of Jaisalmer

Indian mission will organise several events over course of next two-days to mark 5th International Yoga Day on June 21.

"Yoga with Gurus" will be held Thursday evening on sprawling rth Lawn in United Nations Headquarters and Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed will be Chief Guest at event.

outdoor event will have a session led by Yoga gurus Swami Paramananda, Kevin Tobar and his associates from Bhakti Cente and Sunaina Rekhi from India. In addition, re will be musical and dance performances by "Indian Raga".

On June 21, commemoration day, a panel discussion on me of "Yoga for Climate Action" will be held at UN headquarters.

Moderated by Mr Naidu, discussion will feature lifestyle coach and motivational speaker Gaur Gopal Das, Acharya for International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre Srinivasan, Yoga teacher, author and lecturer Eddie Stern, author, speaker and philosopher Simon Haas and Kusumita Pedersen, Professor of Religious Studies at St Francis College, Brooklyn.

Exhibitions on Yoga are also going on in UN building, including "Exhibition on International Day of Yoga - World Photo Series". International Day of Yoga is celebrated annually on June 21 to raise global awareness about benefits of ancient Indian practice.

On December 11, 2014, United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as "International Day of Yoga", months after PM Modi proposed idea.