New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Yoga celebration at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday created a Guinness World Record for the participation of people from maximum nationalities.

PM Modi, who is in New York on the first leg of his historic state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, led the event at the UN Headquarters to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga.

The event at the north lawn of the UN building was attended by luminaries from the fields of science, art, and entertainment, diplomats, academicians, technocrats, and political leaders.

Among them were the New York Mayor, three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej, singer Falguni Shah, actors Richard Gere and Priyanka Chopra and various UN officials.

Speaking at the event, PM Modi said: "Delighted to take part in the Yoga Day programme at UN Headquarters. Let us make Yoga a part of our lives and further wellness."

"Yoga is free from copyright, patent, royalties… It is a way of life...Yoga is flexible, you can practice alone, group, learn from a teacher or self-taught... It is unifying, it is truly universal. It is for all ethnicities, faith, and cultures," he said.

Later, PM Modi would leave for Washington, where the state visit will officially begin.

In Washington, he is scheduled to attend a series of meetings and also address the historic joint session of the US Congress.