Kathmandu, January 15

The fifth National Yoga Day was marked in the country today with several programmes organised by the government.

National yoga day is celebrated every year on the day of Maghe Sankranti, following a Cabinet decision on 13 August 2015. The national yoga day was marked this morning by organising a rally from Ram Shah Path that converged into a corner meet at National Academy. The programme was later joined by Minster of Education, Science and Education Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, Minister of Health and Population Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali .

Participants of the programme practised some yoga postures during the event. All the ministers stressed the need of yoga for healthy life.

Minister Pokhrel said yoga could cure mental health problems. Speakers at the programme claimed that around 30 million people in the world suffered from various mental health problems. The government is preparing to include Yoga in school education and has developed its curriculum.

Yoga practitioners and instructors during today’s programme said yoga was an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice developed by lord Shiva and was later handed over to Parvati. Later the practice was followed by other religious gurus and leaders.

According to Sanskrit pundits, the literal meaning of Yog or Yoga is ‘ to join’ or ‘unite’, which symbolises the union of body and consciousness. This year’s yoga day was celebrated with theme ‘National Unity: Relevance of Yoga’.