"Yoga and Yagams are important elements of our rich culture. They purify our mind as well as environment," he said, while inaugurating the vedic conference at the venue of the week-long somayagam, being organised by the city-based Kasyapa Veda Research Foundation (KVRF), here.
"We are gradually losing our culture. Mega rituals like the somayagam are a bold and genuine attempt to revive our rich and old traditions" said the yoga guru.
Among those who spoke were Acharya M R Rajesh, founder of KVRF; BJP leaders O Rajagopal, former Union minister, and P S Sreedharan Pillai, former state BJP president.
About 10 lakh people are expected to participate in the the week-long somayagam, KVRF sources said.