That's A LOT of downward dogs! Incredible photos show millions of people all over the world taking part in the International Day of Yoga... and even the army and a prime minister get involved

  • The first International Day of Yoga was held around the globe on June 21, 2015
  • Was suggested by the Indian Prime Minister to the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014
  • Narendra Modi led some 45,000 people in a mass outdoor yoga session at 7am on New Delhi Boulevard
  • Sessions were held in Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, Australia, the UK and many more countries 

Millions of people around the world have rolled out their yoga mats and taken part in the practice in celebration of the first annual International Day of Yoga.

Tabled by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to UN General Assembly on September 27 last year the day is a celebration of the ancient practice which has been around for thousands of years.

It was subsequently approved by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 2014. 

'Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition,' Mr Modi said at the time. 

'It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness within yourself, the world and the nature. 

With the aim of providing flawless security arrangements for the International Yoga Day celebrations in the Capital on June 21, the Delhi Police have appointed their top officers for the job. 

Yoga-loving Prime Minister Narendra Modi led more than 35,000 people, including bureaucrats, students and soldiers, performing poses such as the half camel and cobra in a 35-minute mass outdoor yoga session beginning at 7am on New Delhi Boulevard. 

New Delhi also tried to break a Guinness World Record during the mass yoga practice, with over 35,000 people attending the session.

Meantime China, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia and the UK were just a handful of the 177 countries which supported the day when it was presented to the UN General Assembly.

Scroll down for videos... 

Hundreds of people gathered today in London's Alexandra Palace for the UN international Day of Yoga

Hundreds of people gathered today in London's Alexandra Palace for the UN international Day of Yoga

Rows of colourful mats decorated the grass as yoga-enthusiasts stretched in the sunshine

Rows of colourful mats decorated the grass as yoga-enthusiasts stretched in the sunshine

Groups were organised to carry out various different exercises by the event organisers at Alexandra Palace

Groups were organised to carry out various different exercises by the event organisers at Alexandra Palace

Others chose to take a less active approach to the day, but still joined in the breathing exercises from the comfort of the sidelines

Others chose to take a less active approach to the day, but still joined in the breathing exercises from the comfort of the sidelines

The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated around the world on Jun 21, 2015. Pictured front and centre is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated around the world on Jun 21, 2015. Pictured front and centre is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Thousands took part in mass practices like this group taking part in a breathing exercise in new Delhi, India

Thousands took part in mass practices like this group taking part in a breathing exercise in new Delhi, India

Downward dogs were performed in synchronisation during a mass practice in Taiwan

Downward dogs were performed in synchronisation during a mass practice in Taiwan

Bollywood actress and national ambassador of yoga Shilpa Shetty smiles while performing yoga at an event in Bangalore, India

Bollywood actress and national ambassador of yoga Shilpa Shetty smiles while performing yoga at an event in Bangalore, India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who performs the ancient tradition of yoga every day, is seen here in New Delhi 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who performs the ancient tradition of yoga every day, is seen here in New Delhi 

Women strike a pose  in Times Square as part of the summer solstice celebration of yoga

Women strike a pose in Times Square as part of the summer solstice celebration of yoga

Yoga instructor Tracye Warfield, right, participates in a yoga class in Times Square

Yoga instructor Tracye Warfield, right, participates in a yoga class in Times Square

Deepika Agarwal, of Jaipur, India, practices yoga during the 13th annual summer solstice event in Times Square

Deepika Agarwal, of Jaipur, India, practices yoga during the 13th annual summer solstice event in Times Square

New York's Times Square was packed full of yoga fans, against the background of billboards and sky-scrapers

New York's Times Square was packed full of yoga fans, against the background of billboards and sky-scrapers

Namaste, world! Sydney says good morning at the Museum of Modern Art as they take part in the Internation Day of Yoga, facing the Harbour Bridge and Opera House

Namaste, world! Sydney says good morning at the Museum of Modern Art as they take part in the Internation Day of Yoga, facing the Harbour Bridge and Opera House

Sydney yogis embrace International Yoga day, bringing their colourful mats to stretch at the Museum of Contemporary Art in the city

Sydney yogis embrace International Yoga day, bringing their colourful mats to stretch at the Museum of Contemporary Art in the city

Pictured are a large group participating in a yoga exercise at Chulalongkorn University field, in Bangkok, Thailand

Pictured are a large group participating in a yoga exercise at Chulalongkorn University field, in Bangkok, Thailand

Indians perform yoga on Rajpath, in New Delhi, India 

Indians perform yoga on Rajpath, in New Delhi, India 

Yoga students from India perform onstage on the occasion of the first International Day of Yoga in Bangkok, Thailand

Yoga students from India perform onstage on the occasion of the first International Day of Yoga in Bangkok, Thailand

A Malaysian boy is seen playing during the International Day of Yoga festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A Malaysian boy is seen playing during the International Day of Yoga festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Millions of people rolled out their mats across the globe to take part in the ancient practice

Millions of people rolled out their mats across the globe to take part in the ancient practice

Taiwanese perform yoga poses at the start of International Yoga Day in Taipei, Taiwan

Taiwanese perform yoga poses at the start of International Yoga Day in Taipei, Taiwan

Thousands of Indian National Cadet Corps (NCC) boys and girls participate in a mass yoga session near Victoria Memorial in Calcutta

Thousands of Indian National Cadet Corps (NCC) boys and girls participate in a mass yoga session near Victoria Memorial in Calcutta

Here Taiwanese stand atop their colourful mats in a forward fold as part of their routine on Sunday

Here Taiwanese stand atop their colourful mats in a forward fold as part of their routine on Sunday

New Delhi attempted to break the Guinness World Record with the largest mass practice

New Delhi attempted to break the Guinness World Record with the largest mass practice

Young Indian yoga students are seen here performing in Bangkok, Thailand, in honour of the day

Young Indian yoga students are seen here performing in Bangkok, Thailand, in honour of the day

Two thousand people in Taiwam performed 108 rounds of the Sun Salutation on Sunday

Two thousand people in Taiwam performed 108 rounds of the Sun Salutation on Sunday

Participants rest in Child's Pose in Kuala Lumpur on June 21, the first celebration of the day 

Participants rest in Child's Pose in Kuala Lumpur on June 21, the first celebration of the day 

More than 35,000 people participated in a mass yoga demonstration in New Delhi marking the first International Day of Yoga

More than 35,000 people participated in a mass yoga demonstration in New Delhi marking the first International Day of Yoga

The Indian government is attempting to register the event in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest yoga demonstration or class at a single venue

The Indian government is attempting to register the event in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest yoga demonstration or class at a single venue

It is estimated over 35,000 people attended the mass class which started at 7am on Sunday
It is estimated over 35,000 people attended the mass class which started at 7am on Sunday

It is estimated over 35,000 people attended the mass class which started at 7am on Sunday 

Hundreds of people took part in a practice in Singapore

Hundreds of people took part in a practice in Singapore

Buddhist monk Shri Buddha Jaran sits on a yoga mat during an event  in Bangkok, Thailand
Nepalese people take part in a yoga session in Kathmandu

Buddhist monk Shri Buddha Jaran sits on a yoga mat during an event in Bangkok, Thailand (left) and (right) Nepalese people take part in a yoga session in Kathmandu

Piyush Gupta (centre), chief executive officer of DBS Group Holdings Ltd, takes part in a yoga session in Singapore

Piyush Gupta (centre), chief executive officer of DBS Group Holdings Ltd, takes part in a yoga session in Singapore

Naga Sadhus or holy men perform Yoga on the first International Day of Yoga in Kamakhya temple in Guwahati city, India

Naga Sadhus or holy men perform Yoga on the first International Day of Yoga in Kamakhya temple in Guwahati city, India

The UN declared the day the first International Day of Yoga after adopting a resolution proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government

The UN declared the day the first International Day of Yoga after adopting a resolution proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government

Crowds of holy men gather at the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati city, India

Crowds of holy men gather at the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati city, India

National Cadet Corps (NCC) participate in a mass yoga session  at the parade grounds in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad

National Cadet Corps (NCC) participate in a mass yoga session at the parade grounds in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad

A cheeky dog plays around his owners during a yoga session in Taiwan

People all around the world have taken to social media to share snaps of them in celebration of the day

People all around the world have taken to social media to share snaps of them in celebration of the day

An aerial view of the tens of thousands of people in India

An aerial view of the tens of thousands of people in India

Participants practice among the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Participants practice among the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Participants practice among the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Yoga lovers around the world have shared images of them embracing the practice

Yoga lovers around the world have shared images of them embracing the practice

These ladies have embraced yoga posting this colourful photo on Sunday

These ladies have embraced yoga posting this colourful photo on Sunday

Monks can be seen here among the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat

Monks can be seen here among the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat

Thousands of people participate in a yoga exercise at Chulalongkorn University field, marking the International Day of Yoga in Bangkok

Thousands of people participate in a yoga exercise at Chulalongkorn University field, marking the International Day of Yoga in Bangkok

The comments below have not been moderated.

The girl in the 4th photo from the bottom is very desirable for her fitness and _ _ _ umm _ _ dexterity. I need some cold air.

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This is so awesome......With all the vile things going on in today's world ,this is an awesome sight......People from around the world gathered in peace, collectively.......I do not know much about Yoga but it sounds good to me......Keep exercising away good people of the world..........

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To the people of the World, you're welcome. - From a very proud Indian

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@DAILYMAIL, better you write YOGIC PEOPLE despite of DOWNWARD DOGS.

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I hope yoga helps them treat their women better and stop discriminating people based on caste and religion!

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Wow, it's nice when people can come together in harmony.

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A lot of ppl all over the world know how to stretch... Impressive...

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Yoga is India's gift to the world.

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I thought it was Father's Day.

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It's both but the UN recognizes Yoga Day but not Father's Day. ___ Father's Day was started and celebrated in the US to commemorate fathers who had died in a mining accident in West Virginia in 1907. _ _ _ The custom then spread from the US to its poodle nations who religiously celebrate it with gusto toay. ___ Thanks for the opportunity to enlighten.

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Inquire within

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The bottom right picture looks like Mr Miagi out of the film Karate Kid :)

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