Dublin, June 19 (IANS): Hundreds of enthusiasts practised yoga poses in Dartmouth Park here in Ireland to mark the International Yoga Day, a media report said on Sunday.

About 400 people gathered on Saturday for the event, organised by the Indian embassy in Ireland, Yoga Therapy Ireland and several other Indian and yoga organisations, The Irish Times reported.

This is the second year an international day of yoga has been celebrated.

June 21 was declared the International Day of Yoga by the UN General Assembly to coincide with the summer solstice.

The Dublin event was held a few days before the declared date, the Irish Times said. On Tuesday, June 21, President Michael D. Higgins will host a UN International Day of Yoga garden party.

Indian Ambassador to Ireland Radhika Lal Lokesh launched the Dublin event.

"Yoga has been growing in popularity all over the world," she said.

"Although the philosophy comes from India, it has spread all over the world. In a world that is stressed out and full of problems, I think we need to come back to ourselves and see how we can engage with each other and ourselves to bring in greater peace and harmony," she said.

“The message of yoga is universal. It does not discriminate against anybody,” she added.