Kathmandu, Jun 20: Scores of yoga enthusiasts and followers gathered at Lumbini Square in Nepal and performed various "asanas" ahead of the International Day of Yoga. It is the first time that such a large-scale Yoga event has been organised in Lumbini, the Birthplace of Bhagwan Gautam Buddha also regarded as the "Light of Asia."

 

 

 

 

Organised by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal Tourism Board and Lumbini Development Trust along with the Patanjali Yog Peeth, the event was led by Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Shrivastava accompanied by Nepali Tourism Minister Sudan Kirati. Alongside, the Chief Minister of Lumbini Province as well as the Chief of Lumbini Development Trust also participated and performed various Yoga postures.

 

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The Indian Ambassador along with the Nepal Tourism minister and Chief Minister of the Province performed Yoga for about an hour under the guidance of a Yog Guru from the Patanjali Yog Peeth. "Maharshi Patanjali had formulated it in a scientific way, the Patanjali Yog has been formed. A lot of saints and Rishi-Muni have contributed a lot to formulate it. Gautam Buddha also contributed to it. Though the history of Yoga started in India, Nepal also has contributed to this field," Sudan Kirati, the Tourism Minister of Nepal said while addressing the event.

 

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The tourism minister also stated that Yoga is a gift to the world from the Indian subcontinent highlighting the benefits of the traditional exercise. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014, first floated the idea of International Yoga Day. The draft resolution passed by India was supported by 177 nations.

 

 

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