Message on the Occasion of International Day of Yoga (June 21)
On the occasion of International Day of Yoga (June 21), I would like to express my heartfelt good wishes for happiness, peace, prosperity, and good health to all Nepali brothers and sisters residing at home and abroad.
Yoga, which is a part of our rich heritage and philosophy of life, has acquired global recognition after the United Nations declared to celebrate June 21 as International Day of Yoga every year on 11 December 2014. This year, we are celebrating International Day of Yoga with the theme: “Yoga for good health.”
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual exercise. This is a scientific life style and way of life based on certain rules, methods, and processes. Yoga helps people to enhance their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being for healthy lives. Our ancient scriptures mention that yoga is a way to keep our bodies healthy and agile and make our minds peaceful. Regular yoga exercise enhances an individual’s physical and mental health along with increasing efficiency, immunity, positive thinking, discipline, inner energy, and inspiration in everyone by liberating from stress.
According to our yoga teachers and researchers, Nepal is the land of yoga. The Shiva civilization, the Janak civilization, and the Buddha civilization originated in Nepal were flourished on the foundation of yoga. If we delve into the cultural history of Nepal, we find that the knowledge and architecture based on yoga and tantra have been used in the making of ancient buildings and cities across the country. Our temples, sculptures, and paintings also reveal the influence of yoga. It can be observed that the knowledge of yoga and tantra was employed in the making of stone spouts, wells, and royal canals. Thus, yoga has been considered as an important genre of the ancient learning of Nepal. Because of this historical aspect, I believe that Nepal can be a main global destination for the researchers involved in the field of yoga and tantra.
This year, we are celebrating International Day of Yoga amid the adversities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, people’s lives and their health have not only been affected but also anguishes and anxieties have besieged them. This has further increased the relevance of yoga for the physical and mental well-being of people.
Finally, I would like to express my best wishes that may this International Day of Yoga inspire all of us to keep our national pride alive by making the Nepali yoga widespread and making everyone healthy and happy.
Thank you!
21 June 2021