Kathmandu : International Yoga Day is being celebrated by organizing various programs across the country calling for yoga which is considered useful to increase the immunity of the human body. As per the decision of the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, the celebration of International Yoga Day has started from June 21, 2015. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed in the 69th General Assembly of the United Nations to declare International Yoga Day as yoga is always necessary for all.

The proposal was first supported by the then Prime Minister of Nepal, Sushil Koirala, and then by the permanent members of the United Nations, including the European Union. Yoga Day has set a record of 177 countries supporting 90 days out of the days declared by the United Nations. International Yoga Day was celebrated around the world from June 21, 2016.

Yoga Day was celebrated in Nepal from Magh 1, 2036 BS on the occasion of sunset. Nepal Sanskrit University has been teaching yoga and naturopathy for six months. Earlier, World Yoga Day was celebrated in Nepal in 2036 BS with the participation of organizations working in the field of yoga under the auspices of Dr. Hari Prasad Pokhrel.

In the Vedic period, the yoga practiced by sages in the foothills of the Himalayas was almost extinct in Nepal. The work of raising public awareness has been started by declaring a day to revive the region. In ancient times, mental peace and stability and health were achieved through yoga, meditation and Ayurveda. Nepalis who have completely forgotten about it under the influence of modern age have started to be attracted towards yoga as it is being used more and more in Europe and America for treatment and happiness.

After the celebration of World Yoga Day on June 21, Nepal’s campaigners had proposed to the Council of Ministers through the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction to declare Magh 1 as the National Yoga Day.The Government of Nepal had declared Magh 1, 2072 BS as the National Yoga Day.

As Uttarayan is considered important for yoga and meditation, the government has declared Makar Sankranti, i.e. Magh 1, as the first day of Uttarayan. “Yoga is believed to have started from the dialogue between Shiva and Parvati. Shiva Parvati’s abode was in the Himalayan region of Nepal.

Yoga practice was started at Naradevi Ayurveda Hospital on March 28, 1992 to connect Ayurveda with yoga. Since 2058 BS, the Regional Ayurveda Hospital Bijauri Dang has also started providing health benefits through the practice of yoga.

Since yoga is a method of Vedic medicine, in the Atharva Veda, it is said that yoga is the practice of ‘Yogashchittavritti Nirodh:’ i.e. to prevent various things that come to mind. By practicing it, diseases caused by the mind can be avoided.

The Ayurvedic text Charaka Samhita, written in 1600 BC, mentions the development of the mind-conquering Satvavajaya medical system in the forests of the Himalayan region by sages through yoga, meditation and penance. Kshitij Barakoti, president of the Postgraduate Yoga Science Association of Nepal, who is involved in the field of Yoga and Ayurveda, believes that the field of Yoga and Ayurveda will be developed in Nepal after the celebration of Yoga Day.

Formal studies of yoga and naturopathy are being taught in Nepal at Valmiki Vidyapeeth of Nepal Sanskrit University.