By Manjima Dhakal
Kathmandu, Jan. 14: In today’s scenario where everyone is longing to adopt western culture and lifestyle, it is a matter of happiness that the world is adopting the eastern yoga culture to resolve problems created by modernisation.
Yoga, the culture of Asia including Nepal, India, Bhutan and other Himalayan regions, is now becoming a global culture. It has been scientifically proven that yoga aids in mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing of humans especially those suffering from depression, stress and other physical problems as a result of their modern lifestyle.
In recent times, yoga has been receiving global popularity as it’s proven that yoga is essential in maintaining a sound physical, mental and spiritual health.
Dr. Yogi Bikashananda, founder of Manokranti, said that the United Nations’ decision to celebrate International Yoga Day had highly contributed in globalising yoga culture across the world in a short period of time.
In 2014, the UN, by resolution 69/131, had proclaimed June 21 as International Day of Yoga.
Along with the globalisation of yoga culture, the practitioners of yoga are increasing recently even in Nepal. Many politicians, bureaucrats, artists and other popular personalities in Nepal have been opting for yoga to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Lately, the government has taken initiatives to promote yoga within the nation. Starting from this year, yoga was introduced in school curriculum. Students from Grade I to Grade VIII have to study and practice yoga compulsorily now.
Besides, the government had also released a handbook of National Yoga Protocol last year under the initiation of the then Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Giriraj Mani Pokharel.
Bikashananda further stated that as yoga teaches positive thinking and personal sacrifice, it must be made mandatory for politicians and bureaucrats so as to end corruption in the nation.
Similarly, Dr. Chintamani Yogi, a scholar of eastern philosophy, said the materialistic, digitalised, competitive and artificial lifestyle had incited various problems in human heath, emotion and socialization. “Yoga is the remedy to all these problems,” he added.
He further said that the COVID-19 pandemic had reflected the essence of yoga in today’s life as there was no other effective way to combat the virus other than yoga.
“Knowing or unknowingly, many Nepalis have adopted yoga culture in their day-to-day lives. Waking up early, fasting, exercising, doing other household chores and praying to sun as god, among others, are the examples of yoga culture in Nepali lifestyle,” Dr. Yogi said.
Every Nepali must be yogi to maintain a healthy and happy life, he added further.
Meanwhile, the sixth National Yoga Day is being marked across the nation today by organising different functions. The slogan of the sixth National Yoga Day is ‘Garau Yoga Datera, Corona Janchha Hatera’, which translates to ‘let’s do yoga in a determined way, in order to remove the threat of the novel coronavirus’.
“In Nepal, the practice of celebrating National Yoga Day on Magh 1 began from 2036 BS. However, the government formally announced to mark the yoga day from 2072 BS,” said Deepak Sharma, spokesperson of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. On the occasion, the government has decided to organise a function at the Office of the Prime Minister where ministers, security heads, yogis and others are taking part, Sharma said. The Prime Minister is also addressing the function.