Yoga Kumbh began at Pantdweep in Haridwar on Tuesday with the Chief Minister Harish Rawat announcing many developmental programmes for the district. Nearly 700 people from 30 countries visited the Yoga Kumbh which would continue till March 11. In course of it, world renowned yoga gurus would impart training to the initiates. The officials of the para- military forces and the police officials on duty would also be given training on yoga by the yogacharyas.
The Yoga Kumbh is jointly organised by the Uttarakhand Tourism, Parmarth Niketan and GMVN.
CM announced that Ganga Ghat would be developed from Chandighat to Ajitpur at an estimated cost of Rs 60 crores and a cultural centre at Devprayag worth Rs 80 crores to promote Yoga.
CM said that the place is the confluence of Ganga, Yoga and Indian culture with the Ardh Kumbh Mela on.
The Yoga Kumbh has much in offing – regular yoga weekend classes by the nodal agencies of Haridwar like Patanjali Yog peeth, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Rishikul Ayurvedic College and Gurukul Kangri University. On Thursday, the artists from Australia, Israel and America would be presenting the drum beat symphony.
Chidanand Muni of Parmarth Niketan said that with the joint efforts of the state government and department of tourism, Parmarth Niketan would host Yoga Kumbh on the banks of Ganga near Har Ki Pauri.
In the presence of the noted environmentalists like Vandana Shiva, message of environmental conservation was given through a dance drama.