Vegetarian food promotes peace of mind, says Justice Venkatesh

CHENNAI: Vegetarian food can bring peace of mind, promote inner peace and help people connect with the divine, Madras High Court Justice N Anand Venkatesh said on Friday at the Nature Cure Fest organised by the World Veg Council in association with the Government Yoga and Naturopathy College and Rotary District 3233 at Rajarathnam Stadium.

Around 3,000 students from 22 yoga and naturopathy colleges across Tamil Nadu participated in the event. Food stalls and exhibitions showcasing various treatment methods were also organised as part of the festival.

Justice Venkatesh said that vegetarianism was not merely a matter of food preference but also reflected a person’s relationship with other living beings. “Vegetarian food,” he opined, “offers peace of mind and a sense of satisfaction from knowing that one’s food had not come from the suffering of another living being. The link between vegetarian food and peace of mind is also supported by science, as food has a significant influence on a person’s thoughts and mental state. Food creates thoughts and food becomes the mind itself.”

Referring to changing food habits, he added that eating out had become part of contemporary culture. “While many people earlier consumed non-vegetarian food only once a week, often on Sundays, some now consumed it three times a day,” he said. “Thirukkural, Buddhism and Jainism emphasise on avoiding harm to living beings. Vegetarianism reflects the relationship people share with other living things.”

At the same time, Justice Venkatesh stressed that choosing a vegetarian diet should not be seen as a mark of superiority or as a reason to reject others. He also said the Tamil Thai Vazhthu should be sung with devotion, describing the anthem as a representation of the identity of people born in Tamil Nadu.

The festival aimed to create awareness about vegetarian food, yoga, naturopathy and natural approaches to health and well-being.