Bhaktapur, September 26

Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Shankar Bhandari today declared Bhaktapur district as the first ever Yoga district in the country, amid a programme organised at Sallaghari-based Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya’s playground.

Speaking at the programme organised by the Yoga District Coordination Committee, Bhaktapur, Bhandari said yoga was very helpful for physical as well as mental transformation. He said, “Yoga can help bring changes in physical, mental and spiritual, behaviour.”

“Yoga is a natural form of medication that can save millions of rupees spent on other medicines,” he mentioned.

Declaration of Yoga district was possible after three months od hard work of various organisations based in Bhaktapur, namely, Bramhakumari Rajyog Sewa Kendra, Patanjali Yog Committee, Osho Yashodhara Dhyan Kendra, Manokranti Yog Abhiyan, Shiba Yog Sadhana Kendra, Yashodhara Yog Sadhana Kendra, Charitra Nirman Sangh-2 and Mangal Yog Tatha Prakritik Upachar Kendra.

According to Bal Mukunda Suwal, chairperson of YDCC, more than 51 per cent of the total population, aged between 10 and70 years, are practising yoga on a regular basis, in the district.

Similarly, each ward of the six municipalities in the district has yoga and meditation centre, which is another factor for declaring the district as Nepal’s first Yoga District.

“We are going to mobilise our volunteers to raise awareness about the benefits of yoga and bring them to yoga centres in the coming days,” Suwal added.

There are altogether 157 such centres in the district, being run in coordination with various yoga and meditation centres. The ratio of yog, meditation centres and wards in various municipalities in the district is 1:1.6, according to YDCC.

Meanwhile, Minister Bhandari also launched a book entitled ‘ Swathya Jeevan Sukhi Jeevan” written by journalist and social worker Kedar Khadka, at the programme.