RJS-PBH

BRICS Theatre Festival 2026 to Showcase Diverse Theatrical Traditions and Strengthen People-to-People Connections

New Delhi, 24 September 2026. (RJS POSITIVE MEDIA )  The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, will organise the BRICS Theatre Festival 2026 from 12 to 14 October 2026 in New Delhi under India’s BRICS Presidency 2026. The three-day festival, themed “Shared Stories, Shared Futures”, will bring together over 100 theatre practitioners, scholars, students and cultural representatives from nine BRICS Member and Partner Countries.

Briefing the media on the Festival, Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, highlighted its significance as an important cultural engagement under India’s BRICS Presidency and its role in advancing people-to-people connections through theatre.

The Festival builds on the Bhopal Declaration adopted at the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting in August 2026, which emphasised greater cultural cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and stronger networks among artists and cultural practitioners. India also proposed a voluntary Artist Registry to facilitate such exchanges. The Festival carries this vision forward through performances and professional interactions among theatre practitioners from BRICS countries.

The significance of the Festival has also been recognised in the BRICS Leaders’ Declaration, which welcomed the Bhopal Declaration and noted initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural cooperation, cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties.

The Festival will feature participation from India, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, Vietnam, Iran, South Africa, Kazakhstan and Ethiopia. India will showcase two theatre productions, while the participating countries will present productions reflecting their diverse languages, theatrical traditions and contemporary creative expressions. Russia will be represented by two theatre groups.

The Festival will be inaugurated at the National School of Drama on 12 October. Performances will be staged at prominent theatre venues in New Delhi, including the National School of Drama and its Abhimanch Auditorium and Sammukh Auditorium, along with Kamani Auditorium, LTG Auditorium and Meghdoot Theatre.

The Festival will showcase classical, contemporary and experimental forms of theatre. Interactive workshops and discussions involving directors, artistes and production teams will provide opportunities for exchange on artistic vision, performance traditions, acting methodologies, stagecraft and technical design.

The National School of Drama, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, will serve as the nodal agency for organising the Festival.

The BRICS Theatre Festival 2026 seeks to strengthen cultural cooperation and people-to-people connections among BRICS countries by bringing together artistes, theatre practitioners and audiences through a shared artistic platform.

Uday Kumar Manna 

RJS POSITIVE MEDIA 

8368626368.

www.rjspbh.com

National Ayurveda Day: Experts emphasized on biological clock, gut health and evidence-based Ayurveda.

Ayurvedic Scholars Stress Circadian Rhythm, Gut-Brain Link, and Evidence-Based Protocols at National Ayurveda Day Conclave

NEW DELHI

Medical researchers and Ayurvedic scholars called for aligning modern lifestyles with classical circadian rhythms, emphasizing that preventive healthcare depends on metabolic discipline, psychological balance, and empirical validation rather than indiscriminate medication. 

Speaking at a national webinar organized by Uday Kumar Manna Founder National Convener of RJS PBH -RJS Positive Media on 23rd September to commemorate the eleventh National Ayurveda Day under the theme Ayurveda 2026 for a Healthy Tomorrow, clinicians from leading institutions warned against unguided self-medication and highlighted the physiological mechanisms linking digestive health to chronic systemic disorders.

RJS PBH Officials National Observer Deep Mathur & Hon.In-charge Positive Branch Noida Uday Shankar Singh Kushwaha were also present at this occasion.

Delivering the keynote address from Ireland, Dr. Yamini Bhushan Tripathi, former faculty member at the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, presented laboratory and clinical perspectives on classical Ayurvedic principles. Dr. Tripathi observed that while the World Health Organization defined health in 1948 as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, ancient Ayurvedic treatises had long incorporated spiritual equanimity and sensory health, defined as the equilibrium of bodily humors, metabolic fire, and tissues alongside a cheerful state of the senses, mind, and soul.

Dr. Tripathi noted that modern biological tools increasingly corroborate classical concepts. Describing systemic stress through the triad of hurry, worry, and curry, he explained that continuous physical haste and excessive consumption of fried, processed foods trigger mitochondrial hyperactivity, generating free radicals that sustain low-grade chronic inflammation. Concurrently, anxiety elevates neurohormonal catecholamines, compounding the risk of early cardiovascular events and cellular damage.

Dr. Tripathi outlined the Ayurvedic requirement of syncing daily conduct with biological rhythms, noting that physiological functions fluctuate in distinct four-hour cycles governed by biological humors. He pointed out that the period between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., characterized by metabolic detoxification, is routinely disrupted by late-night eating, which severely impairs liver and cellular restoration. He argued that the regulation of conduct, sleep duration spanning four to five ninety-minute cycles, and preserving a four-hour gap between meals are fundamental to preventing metabolic toxicity.

Chief Guest Prof. Dr. M.B. Gaur, Director-Principal of Choudhary Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan, Government of NCT of Delhi, addressed the gathering as Chief Guest, underlining the institutional and policy frameworks advancing traditional medicine. Prof. Gaur stated that the Union Ministry of Ayush has geared its initiatives toward integrating traditional knowledge with rigorous scientific criteria. He explained that the primary objective of Ayurveda remains the maintenance of health in the healthy and the cure of disease in the afflicted.

Prof. Gaur cautioned the public against the consumption of refrigerated, stale, and excessively pungent or processed food, stating that Vedic literature categorized such foods as promoting distress and physical disease. He noted that the national health architecture is actively fostering research, standardization, and innovation to make traditional healing practices accessible from grassroots primary care to apex medical institutions, aligning with broader public healthcare priorities.

Dr. Mehra demonstrated the classical doctrine of dietary suitability, explaining that the nutritional impact of food changes according to processing, combination, quantity, climate, time, and the emotional state of the consumer. Using legumes as an example, she pointed out that while boiled whole green gram is light and easily digestible, frying it or turning it into dense confections makes it heavy, while sprouting increases nutrient density but requires significantly greater digestive capacity. She cautioned against consuming raw fruits on an empty stomach due to abrupt blood sugar spikes, recommending instead that seasonal fruits be consumed during the daytime following light staple meals.

Addressing widespread misconceptions regarding alternative medicine, Dr. Mehra refuted the notion that natural drugs are inherently devoid of adverse effects, asserting that any compound capable of therapeutic action can cause side effects if taken indiscriminately without professional medical supervision.

During an extensive technical question-and-answer session, participants raised clinically significant challenges regarding post-infectious immunity, metabolic dysfunction, and environmental factors.

Dr. Rashmi Choubey questioned the panel regarding persisting post-COVID immunological deficits and cellular exhaustion. Prof. Gaur advised complete adherence to seasonal, freshly prepared vegetarian meals while eliminating refrigerated leftovers. Expanding on the immunological response, Dr. Tripathi stated that persistent anxiety suppresses psychological vitality, which directly degrades immune resilience. He recommended the therapeutic use of turmeric and Indian gooseberry as functional dietary supplements to restore resistance against disease, alongside diaphragmatic breathing and structured breath retention to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, enhance heart rate variability, and facilitate metabolic recovery.

Addressing the gut-brain axis, Dr. Rahul Singh, a practicing psychiatrist from Banaras, inquired how the Ayurvedic concept of sluggish metabolic fire corresponds with contemporary clinical psychiatry. Dr. Mehra explained that impaired secretion of digestive enzymes leaves food undigested in the gastrointestinal tract, producing metabolic endotoxins termed ama, which migrate systemically to trigger chronic disease. Dr. Tripathi added that emotional stress directly restricts intestinal blood flow and digestive secretions through autonomic pathways. He noted that while carminative kitchen herbs like ginger, rock salt, and lemon can stimulate enzymatic activity, psychiatric and digestive stability ultimately depend on activating parasympathetic pathways through breath control and disciplined post-meal postures like Vajrasana.

Ishaq Khan, Rtd.Doordarshan official,Delhi  a participant from the Chhattisgarh border region, questioned whether strict lifestyle guidelines apply equally to manual rural laborers who maintain active outdoor routines, while also seeking clarification on the occurrence of intensely bitter gourds. Prof. Gaur and Dr. Tripathi warned that when normally sweet vegetables such as bottle gourd or ridge gourd turn bitter, they develop toxic cucurbitacins and must be discarded immediately to prevent severe food toxicity.

Responding to a query by 68-year-old participant R.S. Kushwaha regarding frequent nocturnal urination linked to benign prostatic conditions, Prof. Gaur advised restricting fluid intake close to bedtime and ensuring sufficient rest. Dr. Tripathi and Dr. Mehra recommended pelvic floor exercises, including Kegel routines and specific postures such as Setu Bandhasana, Bhadrasana, and Gomukhasana, alongside regulated intake of traditional preparations like Gokhru under clinical supervision.

Participant Sweety Paul, former manager at Bharat Mandapam, discussed common urban practices including morning warm water intake, early dinners, and herbal supplements, prompting Dr. Tripathi to reiterate that restoring intrinsic digestive fire is far more effective for resolving chronic constipation than habitual reliance on commercial laxatives.

Convening the session, Uday Manna of RJS Positive Media stated that the webinar formed part of a nationwide series commemorating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Paying tribute to ancient figures including Dhanvantari, Charak, and Sushruta on the occasion of the conclave, which also coincided with the birth anniversary of poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Manna announced upcoming health awareness initiatives including a National webinar on World tourism Day on 25th September, Co-host by Sunil Kumar Singh and a voluntary blood donation drive organized in collaboration with the Indian Red Cross Society Blood Centre New Delhi.

Following participants make the webinar Successfully namely Deep Mathur, Uday Shankar Singh Kushwaha, Binda Manna, Sweety Paul, Rajendra Singh Kushwaha, Niti Arora, Dr. Rashmi Choubey, Dr. Rahul Singh, Vicky Sharma, Shivam, Neeraj Joshi, Dr. Unnikrishnan S., Dr. Bamdev Tripathi (Singapore), Rajbala, Akanksha, Dr. Anushka, Rohan, Mayankaraj, Dinesh Mathur, Deepika Dagar, Prakriti Kumari, Vandana, Dr. Anurag Singh, Bholaram Dhakad and Chandraprakash etc.

Akanksha 

Head Creative Team 

RJS PBH 

9811705015.

Experts Advocate Plant-Based Diets and Millets to Counter Health and Environmental Crises at International Nutrition Forum.

New Delhi/London: An international panel of agricultural scientists, environmental advocates, and community leaders called for a decisive shift toward plant-based diets, vegan practices, and traditional millets to address surging lifestyle diseases and ecological distress. The observations were made during the 645th edition of the RJS Positive Media webinar, organized in collaboration with the Indian Vegetariansand Vegans Society, London, to mark the conclusion of National Nutrition Week(1-7 September 2026).Uday Kumar Manna, founder and national convenor of RJS Positive Media, announced that proceedings and documented contributions from the organization's initiatives since August 1 will be incorporated into its forthcoming eighth archival volume.

Zindagi ke Saath bhi Zindagi ke Baad bhi. Before concluding the session, the assembly observed a period of silence to pay condolences on the passing of Smt. Manjula Srivastava, mother of organization member Pranjal Srivastava, on September 5.2026.

Nitin Mehta, author, founder of the Indian Vegetarians and Vegans Society, London, and chief guest at the event, highlighted the ethical and environmental toll of industrial animal agriculture and modern dairy operations. He argued that commercial dairy farming involves severe animal welfare compromises, including intensive artificial insemination cycles, the separation of calves from mother cows, the culling or export of male offspring, and the prevalence of bovine joint disorders stemming from high-protein feeds.

On global environmental parameters, Hon. incharge of RJS POSITIVE BRANCH, London Mr.Mehta stated that approximately 120 billion farm animals are slaughtered annually for human consumption worldwide, with more than 32 billion chickens held in industrial factory farms at any given time. He noted that diverting staple crops like maize to livestock feed inflates basic commodity prices and deprives impoverished populations of essential nutrition, while intensifying pressures on global freshwater supplies and marine ecosystems. Citing long-term clinical research, including findings from the University of Oxford indicating lower rates of ischemic heart disease among vegetarians, Mehta cautioned urban consumers in India against heavy consumption of processed cottage cheese (paneer), describing it as metabolically demanding and detrimental to long-term cardiovascular health. He urged civil society groups to administer dietary pledges in educational institutions to encourage youth toward meat-free living.

Dr. Shrawan Singh, Principal Scientist at the Division of Vegetable Science, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, outlined the scientific mechanisms underpinning vegetarian and vegan diets. He explained that plant foods supply essential secondary metabolites, such as lycopene, alongside dietary fiber and antioxidants. These compounds actively neutralize cellular free radicals generated by physiological stress, mitigating the progression of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

Addressing institutional benchmarks, Dr. Singh noted that dietary frameworks formulated by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommend an intake of at least 400 grams of vegetables daily to fulfill human micronutrient and protective compound requirements. Responding to concerns regarding chemical residue on produce in tropical climates, he urged consumers to prioritize seasonal crops, promote kitchen and rooftop gardening, and adopt post-harvest domestic safeguards, such as blanching or soaking vegetables in lukewarm water for five to ten minutes to reduce surface contaminants. He clarified that the Government of India has authorized genetically modified technology exclusively for commercial cotton cultivation, with no GM food crops approved for domestic consumption.

Raspinder Singh Grewal, practicing natural farmer and Director of the Millet Campaign and Diversification Programme at Punjab-based Kheti Virasat Mission, framed dietary choices as central to groundwater conservation and soil rehabilitation. He pointed out that cultivating one kilogram of millets requires between 250 and 500 liters of water, compared to over 8,000 liters for paddy in Punjab, 2,000 liters for wheat, and an estimated 5,000 to 15,000 liters for producing a single kilogram of meat.

Grewal observed that the post-Green Revolution shift to water-intensive paddy monoculture had degraded Punjab's agricultural ecosystem, depleting soil organic carbon levels from an optimal 1 percent to between 0.2 and 0.3 percent across 200 surveyed villages. In contrast, millets function as hardy C4 grasses that grow across diverse temperature zones without synthetic agrochemicals. He emphasized that traditional culinary preparation, including prolonged soaking of grains such as pearl millet (bajra) for ten hours and steam cooking, effectively neutralizes intrinsic anti-nutritional factors. He added that fermented millet preparations help restore intestinal microflora, citing clinical observations by the mission where patients managing chronic diabetes stabilized glucose levels and reduced insulin reliance.

Dr. Indu Jain, expert advisory member of the National Commission for Minorities, New Delhi, situated dietary responsibility within the classical philosophy of ahimsa (non-violence) and the principle of parasparopagraho jivanam (all life is bound together by mutual support). She stressed that ethical restraint extends across all living entities, from microscopic organisms to larger fauna. Dr. Jain highlighted traditional behavioral disciplines, including the avoidance of nocturnal dining (ratri bhojan), daily rituals of mutual forgiveness (Pratikraman), and meticulous food hygiene, asserting that mindful consumption fosters both inner tranquility and social harmony.

The program was attended by Uday Shankar Singh Kushwaha, Dr. Kavita Parihar, Rati Chaubey, Ishhaq Khan, Sweety Paul, Sadhak Dr. Om Prakash, Akanksha, Amrita Ghai, Rukhsana Parveen, Sushma Singh, Motilal Sharma, Rakesh Maurya, Mayank, Meena Singh, Manushi Singh, Vijay Verma, Vivek Kumar Singh, Neelima Chatterjee, Rakesh Jain, Priyanka Vaish, among others.

Uday Kumar Manna, founder and national convenor of RJS Positive Media, also confirmed an upcoming institutional collaboration with the Indian Red Cross Society for a media conference and blood donation initiative.