Celebration of the 10th International Day of Yoga in Nepal

Kathmandu: To celebrate the 10th edition of the International Day of Yoga, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu and the Consulate General of India in Birgunj have organized a series of engaging events across 10 cities and municipalities in Nepal including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lamjung, Lumbini, Janakpur, Chitwan, Birgunj, Hetauda, Gaur and Pokhariya with the theme of  “Yoga for Self and Society”.

In a message addressed to world leaders including the Prime Minister of Nepal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has underlined that ‘In the decade gone by, what began as a Resolution by the UN General Assembly, has grown into a global movement promoting health and well-being. Yoga is today embraced by all cultures and all continents of the world.’

Embassy of India organized two curtain raiser events including a Yoga demonstration at the revered Pashupatinath temple and a lecture-cum-demonstration for the girls of Maiti Nepal in Kathmandu on 7 June 2024.   2024, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu organized a Yoga and meditation practice for more than 450 participants on the banks of Lake Phewa in Pokhara, underscoring Yoga’s role as a bridge between human consciousness and nature on 19 June. Likewise, on the same day, the Embassy also organized a yoga demonstration and free health consultation with Ayurvedic practitioners, focusing on the health benefits of Yoga and Ayurveda, for the students of Pokhara University. The Vice Chancellor of Pokhara University and several senior professors also participated.

Likewise, the center-piece of Embassy of India’s celebration of the International Day of Yoga in Nepal in 2024 was the mega Yoga demonstration event organized at Pokhara’s Rangshala Stadium in association with the Pokhara Metropolitan City on 21 June 2024. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Mr. Surindra Raj Pandey, Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City Mr. Dhana Raj Acharya and over 5000 yoga enthusiasts from the region participated in this event.

CM of Gandaki Province thanked the Embassy of India for organizing the largest International Yoga Day event in Pokhara this year. He underlined that the Government of Nepal had supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal for designating 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014. He also emphasized that Yoga is an important component of the profound and enduring cultural ties between India and Nepal.

Ambassador Naveen Srivastava highlighted that Yoga serves as a powerful cultural bridge between India and Nepal and that the organization of Yoga events in important tourist locations in Nepal can also serve to boost Yoga tourism in these places. Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City thanked the Embassy for supporting the initiative to establish Pokhara as the tourism capital of Nepal by organizing such large scale events in the city. He reaffirmed that the city of Pokhara looks forward to collaborating with the Embassy every year for the celebration of the International Day of Yoga.

Similarly, the Consulate General of India also organised International Day of Yoga events in Janakpur, Chitwan, Birgunj, Hetauda, Gaur and Pokhariya. To wrap up the celebration of the 10th edition of the International Day of Yoga, the Embassy of India will be organising a Yoga demonstration event at the scenic Lamjung district in association with the Madhya Nepal Municipality on 22 June 2024.

The Embassy of India is committed to encouraging people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Nepal based on the shared interest in Yoga and holistic health practices.