Grand opening tomorrow for Ramdev's Patanjali Univ

Hardwar, April 5, (UNI) With the State Assembly passing the Patanjali University Bill yesterday, decks have been cleared for the country's first Yoga and Ayurveda University in the district.

The ambitious Rs 100 crore dream venture of the renowned Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev, to be inaugurated tomorrow, will be purely a self-financing institution. Its gates will be open for students of all castes and religions and Swami Ramdev will be the life-long chancellor of the university.

The general secretary of Patanjali Yoga Peeth, Acharya Bal Krishna told UNI that the university was being established to promote yoga, ayurveda and spirituality based on ancient Indian cultural traditions. ''Besides promoting studies and research in yoga and ayurveda, the university will tap the rich wealth of herbs and medicinal plants of the hill state', said the Acharya.

The sprawling University, to be managed by Patanjali Yoga Peeth is scheduled to be inaugurated tomorrow by the Vice President, Bhairon Singh Shekawat in a grand function to be presided over by Uttaranchal Chief Minister, N D Tiwari, in the presence of 10 Chief Ministers, including those from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Prominent saints of the country, Bollywood stars and the chiefs of many leading national and multi-national companies will be also present.

Stringent security arrangements have been made for the mega event. In view of the large number of the VVIPs visitors, and the mammoth gathering expected at the Peeth at Bahadrabad, 15 km from Hardwar, the Hardwar-Delhi national highway will remain closed tomorrow and the entire vehicular traffic from Delhi and the adjoining states to and from Hardwar will be diverted through alternative routes, said the S S P, Abhinav Kumar.

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