Aastha TV has today begun video testing ahead of its launch next month.

The religious and spiritual channel, which is being broadcast live from India will become the UK's first all Indian religious channel. Aastha's tentative launch date is Monday 8th August and is subject to change. An official announcement is expected in the next few days.

Aastha's tests can be viewed on Sky Digital via the "Other Channels" option at 11.307 (V) under the label "53305".

Aastha has been planning its launch in the UK for several months but was delayed due to Sky's long waiting list of channels launching. The Aastha programme lineup features spiritual discourses, socio-spiritual-cultural ceremonies and events, meditation techniques and devotional music. It charts the holy places of pilgrimage, elucidates on traditional festivals and focuses on Indian vedic sciences like ayurveda, yoga, astrology, crystal therapy and aroma therapy. Aastha broadcasts programming in Hindi, Gujarati and English.

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