Bangalore: Spiritual leader and founder of the 'Art of Living Foundation' Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on January 20 spoke against conversions, saying it was against religious harmony.

"No need to convert because by that you are deploring one religion as if the other is better and one religion is bad," he told reporters at the end of a four-day world conference on spiritual regeneration organised by the foundation.

He said there should be freedom to practice religion but added that freedom to practice religion did not mean freedom to convert.

Asked how conversions, which were a source of tension in the country could be overcome, he said inter-faith dialogue could help in doing so.

"Everyone should know a little bit of every other religion," Ravi Shankar said.

He said the conference, attended by delegates from across the globe, focussed on reducing the level of tension and hatred so that more developmental activities could be taken up by "increasing the human values".

The conference emphasised on unity of mankind and gave a "new hope that something good is happening. People who attended will carry a hope for a friendly and loving society," he added.

Ravi Shankar said he would be attending the coming World Economic Forum meet at Davos where he would deliver a lecture.

PTI