Hundreds Celebrate Yoga Day in Pokhara with Chief Minister Pandey and Ambassador Srivastava

On June 21, hundreds of yoga enthusiasts gathered at the regional stadium in Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal to celebrate the 10th International Day of Yoga. The event was organized by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu in coordination with the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

Key Figures

Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava participated in the event, performing yoga asanas alongside the attendees.

Event Highlights

Chief Minister Pandey emphasized the importance of yoga for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. He announced a new yoga program with the slogan ‘My health, My responsibility’ to be launched in the upcoming fiscal year. This program aims to encourage a healthy and hygienic lifestyle through local campaigns supported by municipalities and local councils.

Ambassador Srivastava highlighted the shared cultural heritage of yoga between Nepal and India, suggesting that Pokhara could become a center for yoga tourism, benefiting both countries.

Background

Yoga, a traditional practice for psychological and physical well-being, originated in the Indian subcontinent. It received formal recognition from the UN General Assembly on December 11, 2014, following an initiative by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015.