SRINAGAR, JUNE 15: Department of Information and Public Relations J&K in collaboration with ‘The Art of Living’ Thursday conducted a program “India meditates” a mental Wellness session at Pandit Bhajan Sopori Auditorium DIPR Srinagar.Celebrating 75years of independence (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav), DIPR in collaboration with The Art of Living together conducted the session aimed to teach and train the employees, artists and students of J&K to tackle the stressful and challenging situations at different stages of life and to help to internalise meditation in their life styles for experiencing improved health, peace happiness and become aware of their inner latent potential.The event witnessed more than 100 participants including the officers and employees of the Information Department, theatre artists, musicians, and students of different schools.In his welcome address Cultural Officer Kashmir Burhan Hussain said “we are all aware of the tremendous rise in Anxiety disorders, Depressions and other Health Ailments Globally, hence mental fitness and mental health awareness becomes the priority to be dealt with”.Vandana Daftari, the Regional Director for Art of Living conducted the session which was appreciated & applauded by all present.Participants shared that they had never experienced such a state of calmness & peace before and were overwhelmed by the experience.Officers of the Information Department appreciated the initiative taken by Art of Living and plan to host many such events across J&K for their employees & staff.It is worth mentioning that “India Meditates” is a collaborative initiative of The Art of Living and Ministry of Culture, Government Of India, under the aegis of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” (AKAM), as a special offering to benefit the citizens on the occasion of 75 years of independence for our Country. The aim is to reach out to the society and encourage people to experience Meditation.Regional Director of Art Of Living said that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the issue of mental illness affects an estimated 350 million people around the world today and in this scenario investing in mental health is the paramount need .The economic and social costs of poor mental health are significant, underscoring the urgency to prioritize mental well-being on a global scale.Inner peace and individual well-being are fundamental to fostering outer peace and societal prosperity. Art Of Living has dedicated over four decades to spreading awareness and providing practical techniques for stress relief that has impacted millions of people worldwide, promoting emotional and mental resilience as the foundation for a harmonious society.Meanwhile, hosting the session AE&CO Syed Shakeel Shan emphasised that mental fitness is the most essential component to live a successful & peaceful life. He shared that such programs are the need of the hour and should be held across J&K.Among the officers of DIPR, Deputy Director Central Subhash Dogra, Deputy Director (PR) Bilal Mukhtar Dar, Deputy Director Audio Visual Deepak Dubey and Assistant Director M Aslam Khan also participated in the session.Mementos and certificates of participation were presented to the participants after the session ended.
