KATHMANDU: KP Sharma Oli, the prime minister of Nepal, stated that Yoga began in Nepal, not India and that India was not present when Yoga began in the world.
While addressing a program at his residence on the occasion of International Day of Yoga in Baluwatar, the PM said, "Yoga was originated in Nepal, not India. There was no existence of India when Yoga was started; it was a country divided into factions."
According to the sources, he further added that the India of today did not exist in the past since it was divided into various parts. At the time he claimed, India was like a continent or sub-continent.
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Oli also said that Indian experts have been hiding facts about it.
Nepal, on the other hand celebrated the occasion with a virtual programme organised by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. It was part of the ongoing 'Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' to remember India's 75th anniversary.
The subject of this year in the middle of Covid-19 celebration was 'Be With Yoga, Be At Home (Ghar Ghar ma Yog),' encouraging people to practise "yoga for wellness," according to the embassy.
The Swami Vivekanand Culture Centre hosted a lecture-demonstration of common yoga protocol, which was streamed live on Facebook.
The common yoga protocol was presented at the Swami Vivekanand Culture Centre and which was streamed live on Facebook page.
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The programme was broadcast live on television with a Nepali voiceover to bring the message of yoga and its benefits to every family in Nepal, according to the embassy.
Yoga Guru Loknath Khanal performed the yoga asanas (yoga postures), and the event was broadly viewed by across Nepal.
People from all across the country also took part in a virtual vlogging (video blogging) and essay-writing contest hosted by the embassy, according to the sources.