KATHMANDU: Experts have pressed for embracing a lifestyle that is inspired by the ancient eastern philosophies to save ourselves from the risk of Covid-19.

In a ‘zoom meeting’ organized by the Bagmati Cleaning Mega-Campaign here today, senior Ayurvedic doctor Dr Rishiram Koirala called for the need to reinstate the kitchen cultures that prevailed in the eastern societies in the ancient time.

In the ancient time, our kitchen mostly saw herbal medicines and organic food which greatly contributed to building robust health, said Dr Koirala, citing some of our ancient healthy kitchen practices and dining etiquettes such as washing hands before and after a meal, one person constantly serving all others in the kitchen and wearing a clean cloth before entering the kitchen.

According to him, these practices were very scientific and the Covid-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to reflect on and revert to our ancient kitchen culture/practices that were very scientific.

He suggested that intaking organic and hygienic food, keeping up with a positive attitude, and destressing oneself could significantly contribute to the prevention of infection such as Coronavirus infection.

Similarly, psychologist Kanchan Rawat shared that her research had concluded that four out of five people were found to have psychological issues. She cautioned that cases of depression, abuse of narcotic drugs, domestic and sexual violence were spiking largely during a health crisis like this.

What’s more worrisome, according to her, was that many people suffering from mental health issues still did not have access to mental health services in our country or did not reach out for professional help due to fear of stigmatization.

Stating that children and elderly people are at higher risk of Covid-19, Rawat spoke of the need to pay attention to these vulnerable groups to save them from the risk of rapidly surging Covid-19 infection. She demanded special programs for the vulnerable group.

Her working paper stated that women, juggling the dual responsibilities such as professional duties and domestic ones, had pushed them on the brink of overstress and depression subsequently.
Managing home, kids, and discharging office duties among others disproportionate amount of obligations, duties, and responsibilities have led women to suffer bouts of stress.

At such time, Rawat suggested considering yoga, pranayama, and light exercises at home on a regular basis.

She also stressed recreational activities at home as prohibitory order has been enforced to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Psychologist Rawat suggested that willpower, as well as immunity power, would be increased if we started thinking of helping others rather than being worried about the issue of pandemics.

Saying meditation and yoga help to remain calm during pandemics as well as to keep the oxygen supply management system active in the body, a teacher at Prekshya Meditation Centre, Kishor Singh Shahi taught yoga practice from zoom.

Former Chief Secretary and main campaigner of Bagmati Clean-Up Mega Campaign, Leelamani Poudyal, expressed commitment to give continuity to meditation and yoga practice program from zoom every day.

Similarly, Bagmati Clean-Up Campaigner Narayan Shrestha shared that interaction would be organized weekly from experts regarding meditation and yoga.

It was informed that a special program would be organized from zoom on Wednesday on the occasion of the completion of eight years of the Bagmati Clean-Up Mega Campaign. The campaign was launched on May 13, 2013.

The campaign is still undertaken on Saturday morning every week under the campaign ‘Two hours volunteering in a week for the nation’.

The campaign has now been launched at 107 places across the nation being influenced from the Bagmati Clean-Up Campaign.
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