Yoga playing important role in reviving culture, says Governor

The week-long International Yog Festival organised by the State Government concluded in Rishikesh on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest,  Uttarakhand Governor Krishan Kant Paul said that Yoga is also playing an important role in the revival of Indian culture at a time when the whole world had acknowledged the importane of yoga. Addressing the gathering, the Governor said that saints and spiritual seekers have had an important role in maintaining the Indian civilisation and its culture. In the distant past when the means of communication were limited, it was the saints and seers who used to travel across the country spreading the message of cultural unity in different parts of the nation. He further opined that the culture of India was being revived through Yoga at a time when nations across the world had also acknowledged the value of yoga.

Speaking on the system of  yoga, the Governor said that meditation and spiritual practice was also important especially in achieving control over the mind. Such practices strengthen the focus and also exert a positive impact on the mental and physical health of the practitioner. Sharing his personal experience, he said that he used to suffer from tonsillitis during his childhood until he resorted to some Yogic exercises after which he did not suffer from the problem. Referring to the growing popularity of Yoga, he said that due to the special fforts of Prime Minister arendra Modi, the International Yoga Day was commenced. He also commended the state authorities for successfully organising the International Yog Festival from March 1 to 8 in Rishikesh, adding that the number of participants in the event had been increasing steadily.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the State Tourism and Culture minister Satpal Maharaj said that a record number of more than 1,500 participants from across India and abroad had participated in the event this year. There were two special aspects of the International Yog Festival this year- firstly, it also included programmes organised at Chaurasi Kutia and secondly the British band Fab Four also performed here as part of the special event held to commemorate 50 years of The Beatles’ visit to Rishikesh.

Yoga guru Swami Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishan, Swami Bharat Bhushan, Vidhan Sabha speaker and Rishkesh MLA Premchand Agrawal among others were also present on the occasion.