KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sushil Koirala today extended greetings and congratulation to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the eve International Day of Yoga.

“The day has been possible with your historic initiative at the United Nations last year. I am happy to recall that Nepal has been an early sponsor. It is so encouraging to recall the overwhelming endorsement by 177 countries of the resolution at the United Nations General Assembly that decided on December 11, 2014, to proclaim June 21 as International Day of Yoga, demonstrating a global recognition of yoga benefits,” Prime Minister Koirala has said in the message to Modi.

Prime Minister Koirala added that ‘originating in our region as a mental and spiritual practice thousands of years ago, yoga truly remains a cultural identity’.

“Yoga integrates our body and mind with multiple health benefits. Nepal shares this spiritual and philosophical tradition to health and mind as it has been a home for seers, sages and yogis for centuries in search of knowledge since times immemorial,” he added.

Extending his warm felicitations to yoga practitioners on this historic day, PM Koirala hoped to see the spread and institutionalisation of yoga as an integral part of peoples’ life throughout the world.