Indian religious and spiritual channel Aastha has begun testing EPG data days ahead of its official Sky Digital launch.

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.

BSkyB has penned in a "Monday 8th August" launch for the channel but this may change depending talks ongoing between the broadcaster and Sky. A final decision will be confirmed by the end of the week.

Tests of the channel can be viewed at 11.307 (V) under the label "53305". Visual and audio tests are to commence next week.

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