New York, June 21 : Thousands of yogis created an island of stillness in the frenetic whirl of ‘Crossroads of the World’.

Aptly named, ‘Mind Over Madness’, the day-long yoga event featured seven massed yoga practices that included lessons for newbies at Times Square, on Thursday, the Summer Solstice Day.

“People seek stillness, they seek that peace in a frenetic world that we live in, and what better place than at Times Square to really practise that,” said Tracy Warfield, a yoga teacher, as she prepared to lead a session.

Cealia Brannan, another yoga teacher who led a session, said the day’s celebration “I feel like it's kind of homage to yoga”.

In the microcosm of the world -- people with origins across Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and beyond -- stood with Swati of Indian origin warming up for a session with her husband and two sons.

“I'm immensely proud that it has become a global phenomenon,” she said.

“I love it that people are coming to embrace the Indian culture and Indian values and they are adapting and embracing spirituality,” she said.

The Indian Consulate General was the sponsor of the first event of the day and Consul General Binaya Pradhan greeted the yogis and highlighted the benefits of the ancient art.

It was the longest day, and also the hottest so far this year at 33 degrees Celsius.

About 8,000 people had pre-registered for the event, according to the organisers, and thousands more dropped by.

As the yogis reached for Nirvana in the media strip of Times Square, overhead ads for movies, luxury watches, clothes and food and drinks floated by on electronic billboards, the NASDAQ building flashed the ups and downs of the stock market, characters dressed as the Statue of Liberty and Walt Disney characters sauntered, the area fixture “Naked Cowboy” strummed his guitar, and gawking tourists stopped to watch and sometimes imitate the asanas impromptu.

“I think it's very easy to get caught up in the world, especially all the things that are going on now,” said Warfield. “And you get this opportunity to just be together. Enjoy the practice. Enjoy your body. Enjoy your breath, and enjoy life”.

Swati said of the differing approaches to ancient art, “In India, it's more intense here is more fun”.