Changunarayan declared country's first Yoga Municipality

By A Staff Reporter, Bhaktapur, May 27: Changunarayan Municipality in Bhaktapur has officially been declared a yoga city, becoming the first municipality in the country to receive such recognition.

Chief Minister of Bagmati Province, Indra Baniya, formally announced the declaration by reading out the official proclamation.

Bagmati Province Minister for Culture and Tourism, Suresh Shrestha, expressed confidence that branding Changunarayan as a Yoga Municipality would open new dimensions for the development of tourism in the area.

Federal parliamentarian Guru Baral expressed happiness that the municipality had embraced these priorities and initiated the Yoga Municipality campaign to build a healthy and prosperous community.

Mayor of Changunarayan Municipality Jeevan Khatri stated that the municipality has prioritised yoga for the health, positive thinking, and prosperity of locals. 

"Declaration would not remain limited to paper, but would be implemented in every ward and settlement through yoga camps and yoga education programmes," he announced.

Assistant Chief District Officer of Bhaktapur, Suresh Acharya, and expert member of the Provincial Yoga Committee under the Bagmati Province Ministry of Health, Nabaraj Kafle, stressed the importance of administrative and technical support to institutionalise the concept of a Yoga Municipality.

National President of Patanjal Yoga Samiti Nepal, Sudarshan Subedi, praised the municipality for promoting yoga through policy-level initiatives and stressed the need to integrate yoga into the daily lifestyle of every citizen.

Municipality spokesperson Janak Khatri and municipal staff member Ranjana Sapkota spoke about the declaration process.

Central Chief Coordinator of Patanjali Yoga Samiti Nepal, Labdev Mishra; Vice-President of Brahmakumari Rajyoga Service Centre, BK Ramsingh Air; Chairperson of the Bhaktapur Yoga District Coordination Committee, Bijendra Dhwoju; and coordinator of Jeevan Bigyan Trainers’ Network, Surendra Man Bijukchhe, appreciated the municipality's initiative.

The event began with a collective yoga. Patron of Patanjal Yoga Samiti Nepal, Balmukunda Suwal, commenced the programme by leading yoga practice sessions for guests, public representatives, and practitioners at the Electricity Training Centre in Kharipati.

Meanwhile, a commemorative publication titled Changu Yoga Jyoti Sandesh was also launched at the event.