International Yoga Day stretches around the world

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose proposal for the global event won UN approval in 2014, led the way, performing his asanas with over 50,000 others in the northern city of Dehradun.People gathered at a sprawling forest research institute -- snakes and monkeys were removed in advance -- before dawn for the communal session involving the yoga-mad premier, an AFP reporter at the scene said."The way to lead a calm, creative & content life is Yoga. It can show the way in defeating tensions and mindless anxiety," Modi said on Twitter."Instead of dividing, Yoga unites. Instead of further animosity, Yoga assimilates. Instead of increasing suffering, Yoga heals," the 67-year-old said.Yoga practitioners attend a special session to mark International Yoga Day at Tokyo's Zojoji Temple on Thursday.Other gatherings took place in the capital New Delhi with 10,000 enthusiasts registered. Several hundred braved unhealthy pollution levels and hot and humid weather to lay out their mats in the Lodhi Gardens park.At least 5,000 events big and small took place across India, but the largest was expected to be in Mysore in the south with more than 60,000 taking part, according to organisers.Yoga was also performed on board the Japanese naval ship JS Ise and on the Indian Navy's INS Sahyadri taking part in military exercises in the western Pacific, the Indian Navy said. Submarine staff from Indiatarget="_blank"'>On the northern facade of the United Nations building in New York a laser projection of yoga postures has been in place since Monday.