Modi leads celebration of International Yoga Day

Thousands of people gathered Tuesday in the heritage Indian city of Mysuru to practice yoga as the country celebrated the eighth international yoga day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also joined the yoga session in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. The theme for this year's yoga day was "yoga for humanity."

Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister said "Global challenges like climate change and international conflicts, yoga makes us conscious, competent and compassionate towards these challenges."

Soldiers posted on the snow-capped mountain borders also performed yoga exercises to mark the day.