BHAKTAPUR, May 19: The historic town of Changunarayan, perched atop a small hill to the east-north of Kathmandu Valley, is set to become Nepal's first officially declared 'Yoga Municipality'.
Organizing a press meet recently, Jeevan Khatri, Mayor of Changunarayan Municipality, shared that preparations are underway to announce the Municipality as the first 'Yoga Municipality' amid a three-day event to be held on May 22, 23 and 24.
The event will mark the declaration of the Municipality, informed Mayor Khatri.
Yoga – An Ancient Blessing
According to him, a grand 'yoga science camp' will be organized at the Nepal Electricity Authority Training Center in Kharipati at 5:00 AM each day during this event.
He shared that on the final day of the event, a special ceremony will be held where the 'Changu Yoga Jyoti Sandesh' souvenir will be unveiled and the Chief Minister of Bagmati Province will declare Changunarayan Municipality a 'Yoga Municipality'.
Following the declaration, yoga camps will be organized in every ward and school besides providing yoga instructor training to aspiring yoga teachers, said the Mayor.
As a part of the campaign, the Municipality is also planning to incorporate yoga into the school curriculum and implement yoga education mandatorily in every school.
Furthermore, dedicated yoga parks and meditation centres will be established within the Municipality, said Mayor Khatri, adding that initiative will also be taken forward in coordination with the Ayurveda and natural healing practices to further promote yoga and expand its reach within the community.
During the press meet, Mohan Kumar Shrestha, Chief Administrator of the Municipality, said that the campaign to declare the municipality as the country's first 'Yoga Municipality' has sparked strong enthusiasm among the local residents.
Likewise, Nawaraj Kafle, member of the provincial yoga committee, shared that plans are afoot to expand such campaigns across the country in future.
