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Ahmedabad, Nov 9 (IANS) Gujarat and Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat inaugurated the Naturopathy Day Festival in Ahmedabad, marking the beginning of the nationwide celebrations dedicated to yoga and naturopathy that will continue till November 18.
The event began with an inspiring feat at the Sabarmati Riverfront, where 685 participants simultaneously performed ‘Vrikshasana’ (tree pose), applied mud packs to the face and collectively took a sun bath, earning entries in both the IEA Book of World Records and Asia Book of Records.
While unveiling the cutouts of ‘Naturopathy Day’ and ‘Naturopathy Festival’, Governor Devvrat emphasized on the deep connection between nature and health.
“A healthy soul resides only in a healthy body,” he said, urging people to adopt natural ways of life including yoga, pranayam and a balanced diet in tune with the rhythms of nature.
Reflecting on the ancient wisdom of Indian sages, the Governor said, “Our sages lived in harmony with nature and gave us disciplines like yoga and pranayam. The further we move away from nature, the more we invite suffering. Now is the time to return to our roots.”
Governor Devvrat highlighted the increasing prevalence of lifestyle diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes and attributed this to the decline in natural life and increase in chemical farming.
Appealing to farmers to adopt natural farming methods, he said, “Chemical farming has made our soil poisonous. To protect health and environment, we have to return to natural farming.”
He also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives through the Ministry of AYUSH and the National Mission on Natural Farming, calling them steps towards reconnecting with India’s traditional wellness practices under the approach of ‘Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi’ (heritage with progress).
Gujarat State Yoga Board Chairman Sheesh Pal appreciated the Governor’s continuous guidance in promoting yoga, indigenous science, cow conservation and natural agriculture across the state.
They pledged to continue spreading awareness about naturopathy and holistic wellness under the guidance of the Governor. Congratulating the organizers, Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibha Jain said that the Governor’s guidance in natural farming has been invaluable for the farmers of Gujarat.
Reiterating the Prime Minister’s message ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – the world is one family, he urged citizens to contribute to the vision of a self-reliant India and a developed India.
Several workshops, seminars and group yoga sessions are being organized across the country between November 9 to 18 by various non-profit organizations in collaboration with Gujarat State Yoga Board and National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN) under the Ministry of AYUSH.
These events include group activities such as sunbathing, face mud packs and Vrikshasana, which have been recognized by both Asian and global record institutions for their scale and participation.
The event was also attended by Hemanshu Sharma of NIN, Yoga and Naturopathy practitioners, students from schools and colleges, who collectively sang the Naturopathy Anthem in celebration of the ancient medical heritage of India.
–IANS
janvi/svn