KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today said no religion was greater than patriotism and national interest.

Addressing the concluding session of Yog Vigyan Shivir-2010 conducted by Yoga Guru Swami Ram Dev, the PM said, “We should love our nation and work dedicately determinedly to develop it. It is the supreme religion.”

Saying that Swami Ram Dev had brought a revolution in the field of yoga practices, he said, “We can solve any problem through yoga if we meditate deeply and work honestly.”

On the occasion, Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha said yoga was the best education in human life. “My health problem was healed through yoga. It should be practiced in every house as it helps cure tension and stress among people in this modern world,” he said.

The camp that began on March 27 ended today. More than 39,000 people regularly participated in the camp. Six million rupees were collected by selling tickets while Rs 2 million were collected through life-membership issuances and the corporate sector donated Rs 2 million during the yoga camp.

“Around Rs 2.5 million was spent on the management of the camp,” said Saligram Singh, coordinator of the organising committee and trustee of Patanjali Yog Peeth, Kathmandu.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Nepal Army provided space for the camp at Tundikhel free of cost.

Meanwhile, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Swami Ram Dev today left for Syangja to inaugurate the Patanjali Yog Peeth at Waling. The Peeth will be inaugurated tomorrow.

Two yog peeths — one in Kathmandu and another in Kavre — has already been launched. “We have planned to produce 75,000 yoga teachers from the Patanjali Yog Peeth at Dhulukhel in Kavre by the end of 2010,” said Singh. There are about 25,000 yoga teachers in Nepal at present.

Yoga guru imparts lessons to cops

KATHMANDU: Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev today made officials and personnel of Nepal Police to pledge that they would stay away from smoking, chewing tobacco and consuming liquor during one-and-a-half-hour training camp on yoga.

Addressing the gathering, he said the bad habits were injurious to the peace and security of Nepal. “Healthier police mean, country is more secure,” he added.

Over 4,000 NP trainees took up yogic aasan on the premises of NP Headquarters in Naxal under the guidance of Ramdev.

Preaching the need of yoga for healthier life, he performed several aasans, breathing exercises and yogic methods for them to follow. “One’s life is more vital than anything else under the sun. Nepal Police and Nepali Army are fighting for the cause, putting their priceless lives at risk. I salute you for your love for the nation,” Ramdev added.

He offered health and moral tips during the course of training. “Criminals are scared of you. Corrupt fear you. Conduct yourself well and serve the nation and its people from the

bottom of your heart,” he told the cops.

Ramdev said, “We lead tough lives and needed bodily flexibilit y from within. These exercises gives us strength and build concentration.”

Ayurved Shiromani Acharya Bal Krishna appealed to the cops to demonstrate heroism through their conduct. He offered free yoga classes to the cops in all 75 districts on behalf of Patanjali Yoga Peeth.

Home Secretary Dr Govinda Kusum extended this gratitude to Ramdev for physically and mentally energising the police department through yoga. Ramesh Chand Thakuri, Inspector General of Police, expressed commitment to translating the words given to Ramdev into action. “Yoga will definitely help us boost professionalism in NP. We benefited from the camp,” said the IGP.

Former NP officials and journalists also learnt a few yogic aasans from Swami Ramdev. Apart from helping one lose weight, yoga is considered useful to help the patients suffering from blood pressure, arthritis, regulating blood sugar and even heart ailments.