Thaindian News

Panaji, Sep 20 (IANS) Otherwise known for beach parties and infamous for drug abuse and crimes against women, Goa will now have a touch of calm. Art of Living founder guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will hold one of his mega ‘mahasatsangs’ at Miramar beach, near here.

Miramar beach, a sandy expanse stretching for a couple of kilometres, is Ravi Shankar’s favourite satsang location in Goa, the organisers claim.

“Beaches are like God. They are excellent places for prayer and meditation. Miramar beach is definitely the preferred choice of his holiness,” Ventakesh Hegde, a member of the Goa chapter of Art of Living foundation, told IANS Monday.

Hegde justified the use of a beach as opposed to an open ground or a hall.

“The benefits of the exercise can be derived wherever you do the exercises. But on the beach it is calm and peaceful. Besides there is no water-logging,” Hegde said.

Ravi Shankar, a leading global breathing art practitioner, is best known for his set of breathing exercises known as ‘Sudarshan Kriya’.

“Goans are intelligent people and when they have high paying jobs, it leads to a lot of stress. Our exercises are to help achieve inner peace,” Hegde said.

The mahasatsang, to be held Sep 21, will be the third such gathering organised in the state.

The gathering is expected to draw a crowd of about 15,000 people, Hegde said.

Last year’s edition was held at the famous Colva beach in south Goa, around 40 km from here.

During his visit to the state, Ravi Shankar will also attend a meeting of India Against Corruption that backs activist Anna Hazare.

Goa has been in the negative spotlight for the last few years, after several foreign women were sexually assaulted on its beaches.

Beaches like Anjuna, Morjim and Arambol, among others, are infamous as drug havens and are known for their narcotics-laced beach parties during the tourism season from October to March every year.