From public parks to picturesque beaches, tens of thousands across India participated in mass yoga sessions on Saturday to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga.

People in various Indian states gathered to perform stretches, breathing exercises, and traditional yoga poses. Military personnel also joined the celebrations—practicing yoga on naval ships in the Bay of Bengal and even in the extreme altitudes of the Siachen Glacier in the Himalayas.

Countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia also planned similar observances.

“I feel that yoga keeps us spiritually fit, mentally fit and helps us manage stress. That’s why I feel that people should take out at least 30 minutes every day for yoga to keep themselves fit,” said Rajiv Ranjan, who attended a yoga session in New Delhi.

Yoga, one of India’s most recognizable cultural exports alongside Bollywood, has become a soft-power tool under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has promoted it globally as India steps into a more prominent role on the world stage.

In 2014, Modi successfully lobbied the United Nations to declare June 21 as International Day of Yoga. This year’s theme was “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.”

Modi performed yoga in Visakhapatnam, a coastal city in southern India, where a large crowd had gathered. “Yoga leads us on a journey towards oneness with world,” he said as he joined others on colorfully arranged yoga mats for breathing drills and poses like backbends.

“Let this Yoga Day mark the beginning of Yoga for humanity 2.0, where inner peace becomes global policy,” he added.

Government officials, ministers, and military officers also shared images of themselves performing yoga poses on social media.

In New Delhi’s Lodhi Gardens, a diverse crowd of participants followed instructions on stage as they practiced together.

“Yoga for me is like balancing between inner world and outer world,” said Siddharth Maheshwari, a startup manager who took part in the event.