Kathmandu June 21:

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged all concerned take his request to boost the immunity of the body seriously. Attending a virtual programme organised to mark the International Yoga Day here today, he said the turmeric, ginger, fenugreek seeds that we use as spices have been proved to carry medicinal qualities, hence their use needs to be increased. “I had talked about it in terms of increasing the immune capacity of our body, but some intellectuals made a fun of it, fun of turmeric, fenugreek, pepper and ginger,” he said. Ayurveda and Yoga are extraordinary medicine, and it should be promoted. The Yoga that originated in Nepal has now become global, and this highlights Nepal’s history, civilization and pride. Prime Minister Oli said good health was a prerequisite to realizing the national aspiration of Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali. For this the government has forwarded the Healthy Nepal campaign. As food habits, exercise and rest are interlinked, we need to promote Yoga and Ayurveda. On the occasion, Prime Minister Oli also released a book on yoga published by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Speaking at the programme, Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel said yoga practice and study has been initiated from the school level, and it needs to be widened so as to remain healthy. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai expressed the confidence that the book released today would help make Yoga a life style of the people. Today is the 6th International Yoga Day. Nepal also observes a National Yoga Day on Magh 1 in the lunar calendar.