The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu is all set to celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21, 2025, with a grand event in Pokhara. The celebration is being organized in collaboration with Pokhara Metro City and the Pokhara Tourism Council. As a prelude to the main event, a special yoga session will be held on June 14 at the historic Gauri Shankar Temple in Lamjung District, a scenic location at the heart of Nepal.
Over 90% of Nepal’s population has traditionally practiced forms of yoga, meditation, and wellness through diverse systems such as shamanic rituals, tantric kriyas, and indigenous spiritual methods. These practices have included yogic postures (kriyas), symbolic hand gestures (mudras), and deep meditation (dhyaan). However, in the face of modern life and rapid urbanization, many of these age-old wellness practices are fading from daily life.
To address this, International Yoga Day has served as an annual reminder to reconnect with these time-honored traditions. Over the last decade, the Embassy of India and its regional offices in Pokhara, Birgunj, and Dharan have actively hosted yoga sessions across Nepal to promote holistic health and awareness.
In the 75 days leading up to this year’s International Yoga Day, several yoga events have taken place at iconic sites. These include the revered Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, where a mass yoga session was held in collaboration with the Pashupati Area Development Trust. Other key sessions were conducted at UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Patan Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square, and Changu Narayan Temple.
Educational institutions also joined the celebration. A large group of students participated in a yoga session at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Kathmandu. The event ended with a lecture on the benefits of Satvik Aahar, encouraging students to adopt mindful and healthy eating based on traditional Indian dietary wisdom.
The Yoga Mahotsav has also gained traction online. A yoga photo contest was recently held to raise awareness about the connection between yoga and nature. Many participants submitted photos of yoga poses taken in picturesque locations across Nepal. Additionally, a growing number of people have signed up for the Yoga Sangam Portal, reflecting the increasing interest in the practice.
Yoga sessions were also organized at the Nepal Army Headquarters and ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development) in Kathmandu. These events saw participation from scientists, researchers, and yoga enthusiasts who came together to embrace harmony and holistic well-being.
In support of the initiative, the Government of Nepal has formed a main committee with representatives from the federal, provincial, and local levels to oversee the observance of Yoga Day. As part of the preparation, yoga instructors and ministry officials met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at his Baluawatar residence.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Oli emphasized the importance of adopting yoga as a daily lifestyle practice. He urged all stakeholders to align efforts with the Nirogi Nepal Abhiyan (Healthy Nepal Campaign) and ensure that the celebration has a lasting impact on public health.
As Pokhara prepares for the main event on June 21, the buildup across Nepal has already set the stage for a powerful celebration of mind-body harmony and a renewed focus on traditional wellness.
