Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, Michael Douglas at UN to mark International Peace Day

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on Friday joined UN chief Ban Ki-moon and American actor Michael Douglas to commemorate the International Peace Day, describing it as an "absolute honour."

Bachchan was among a host of celebrities who were at the UN headquarters to take part in the ceremony which is held every year on September 21 and seeks cessation of hostilities around the world for a day. It was the first time for Bachchan at the UN headquarters.

The ceremony was held at the Rose Garden early morning on Friday and was attended by Ban and UN Messengers of Peace Douglas, British anthropologist Jane Goodall, Jewish-American writer and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel and American actress and singer Monique Coleman.

"It is an absolute honour to be here. I am glad I have been able to participate because it truly is an honour and I am looking forward to the whole experience," Bachchan told PTI after the brief ceremony.

Bachchan, 38, said she was glad to be able to contribute in sending out a powerful message of peace.

"Peace is the call of the day, has been and will always be," Bachchan said, adding, "we are all here to help resonate the message of peace."

Dressed in exquisite Indian attire of a flowing creme lehenga and black sequenced top, Bachchan stood with Douglas as she listened intently to Ban's address.

Later she was seen talking to Douglas and posed for photographs with a group of little children, who were part of a performance group that played the violin during the ceremony.

A moment of silence was observed in honour of the victims of conflict and those who are being subjected to human rights abuses. Ban along with UN General Assembly President Vuk Jeremic rang the 'Peace Bell' to mark the occasion.