The 20th International Yoga festival, conducted the Directorate of Tourism will get underway here tomorrow, welfare and Tourism Minister P Rajavelu said today.
Addressing reporters here, he said the purpose of holding the festival was to project Puducherry globally as a preferred tourist destination. Yoga practitioners from France, U.K., Germany, Italy, Hong Kong and Spain, besides those from India would participate in the meet, he said.
There would be special debates and discussions on various aspects of yoga, he said.
Rajavelu said he had recommended to the Directorate of Education to introduce yoga as part of school curriculum as it would help improve the standard of academic performance of the children and also give a new orientation to their behaviour.
Tourism Department Secretary W V R Moorthy who was also present said more than 10 lakh tourists, including foreigners visited Puduchery in 2013
"Our intention is to project Puducherry as a place of festivals and wellness tourism would gain thrust", he said adding that the festival would be marked by programmes to highlight the therapeutic importance of yoga.
Lt Governor Virendra Kataria will inaugurate the festival and Chief Minister N Rangasamy preside over it. Prizes and special titles instituted by the government would be given to those proficient in yoga demonstration and also presenting theoretical talk on yoga.
