Yoga Day: PM leads celebrations in Ranchi, thousands in India and world roll out their mats

From the UN GA hall to the Indian Parliament premises and from Beijing to Ranchi, thousands of people stretched and twisted, breathed in and breathed out, reached for the skies and bent to touch their toes as India and the world marked the fifth International Day of Yoga on Friday.

The ancient wellness regime was the theme and its enthusiasts on the mat -- literally -- performing 'asanas' simple and complex amid chants of "Om" and "Shanti" in several global capitals and across towns and villages in India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the observance of the day.

In India, the main event was held at the Jharkhand capital Ranchi with the prime minister performing various 'asanas' along with 40,000 people at the Prabhat Tara ground.

Appealing to people to make yoga an integral part of their lives, Modi said,"We should make efforts to take yoga from cities to villages and tribal areas. Yoga is above religion, caste, colour, gender and region, it is above everything."