HARIDWAR: An international festival on yoga, culture and spirituality kicked off on Thursday at Haridwar-based Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya with nearly 2000 delegates from 20 countries including the US, Korea and Israel participating in the five-day extravaganza.

Held every year by the university, it is the fourth edition of the event in which 20 spiritual luminaries and 30 yogic experts from across the country and abroad are taking part.

Addressing the inaugural session of the festival, noted spiritual leader from the US and Mahatma Gandhi award winner for his contribution to world peace, Patrick Mcculum said India's spiritual richness of which yoga is an integral part sets it apart from other countries of the world.

"If ever there is a cultural and spiritual reawakening in the world, it will definitely begin from India," he said.

DSVV chancellor Pranav Pandya who also spoke on the occasion said, yoga, culture and spiritualism do not only enrich an individual's life but also contribute richly to the building of a nation.

"Collective character of a country is at the root of its overall growth.

"The importance of yoga, culture and spiritualism is great considering the vital role they play in character building which finally deteremines the direction in which a nation moves," he said.

National Human Rights Commission director general D R Kartikeyan said religion basically is a concept which connects one individual to another and yoga is an important offshoot of it.

Located close to the banks of the Ganga in the Himalayan foothills, DSVV is a UGC recognised university which holds the event every year to familiarize participants with the benefits of yoga in their spiritutal growth and the country's rich cultural heritage.

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Original post:

International yoga festival begins in Haridwar