Haridwar, Nov 11 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee will be the chief guest at the fourth convocation of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidalaya next month, the university said Sunday.

During the Dec 9 event, a total of 1,370 degrees will be awarded, including 31 gold medals, as well as 77 doctorates, said a statement from pro vice chancellor Chinmay Pandya.

For the first time, degrees would be given away to students of distance education programme too.

Others who will be facilitated will included Marco Ferrini, who has worked on alternative therapy in the US, and Hindi writer Narendra Kohli, the statement said.

Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi and Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna will also attend the function.

The university is part of "Gayatri Pariwar", a spiritual group based in Haridwar.

It is also engaged in widespread tree plantation, cleaning the Ganges and other rivers, and contributing to the upkeep of key pilgrimage centres.