Tribune News Service
Swargashram (Pauri), mar 1
The International Yoga Festival began at Parmarth Niketan, Swargashram, in the Yamkeshwar block of Pauri Garwhal, near Rishikesh, today.
The yoga festival is being organised by the Parmarth Niketan ashram in cooperation with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council and the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam. Yoga enthusiasts from across the globe are taking part in the six-day festival.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat inaugurated the festival in the presence of Tourism Minister Dinesh Dhanai, Tourism secretary Shailesh Bagauli and spiritual guru Muzi Prem Baba and Swami Chidanand Saraswati Muni.
The Chief Minister said Rishikesh was an ancient hub of yoga. “Lord Shiva was the first yoga practitioner of the world and meditated in Rishikesh. Practising yoga is an experience which can only be felt not described,” he said.
He said yoga camps would be organised in the Ardh Kumbh zone every Saturday and Sunday. Yoga Maha Kumbh would be held in Haridwar next week, he added. “We are making an annual calendar of yoga activities. By providing advanced training to youths of the state, we will induct them as part-time yoga trainers in educational institutes,” the Chief Minister said. Dhanai announced the opening of a yoga college at New Tehri.
International Yoga festival director Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati said practising yoga on the banks of the Ganga would be a memorable experience for the participants.
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