Ahead of International Yoga Day, hundreds of yoga enthusiasts attended an event addressed by India’s Deputy Ambassador to the United States Sripriya Ranganathan.

The International Yoga Day event was held at the beautiful Washington D.C. pier on Wednesday. The event began with prayers and Indian classical dance performances. Inspired by the ancient Indian practice, the yoga session drew attention to the spirit of unity and harmony.

After being adopted by the United Nations, International Yoga Day is celebrated across the world every year on June 21. The draft resolution proposing International Yoga Day was presented by India, and was supported by a record 175 member states at the United Nations.

The theme of this year is ‘Yoga for self and society’.

Addressing the gathering, Ranganathan highlighted how yoga paves the way for building harmony and balance, which is essential for a bright future of the society.

“Since its origins in the Indus Valley Civilisation, the timeless practice of Yoga has spread far and wide and now, almost 5,000 years later, millions of people across the world practice Yoga,” Ranganathan was quoted as saying in the official media release.