Commemoration of the 6th Ayurveda Day

On the occasion of the sixth Ayurveda Day, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, the cultural arm of the High Commission of India, Colombo, organised a seminar on 2 November on the theme ‘Ayurveda for Poshan’, in a hybrid mode. 

A limited number of participants attended the seminar at the centre whereas other participants, including from India, Sri Lanka and Singapore, attended the seminar in a virtual mode. The key objectives of the seminar were to promote exchanges of recent researches in Ayurveda and to spread awareness about Ayurveda for better health and living.

Every year, since 2016, the Government of India celebrates the Ayurveda Day on Dhanvantari Jayanti (Dhanteras) for promotion, propagation and popularisation of Ayurveda. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Dhanvantari, who is referred to as the ‘God of Ayurveda’ in Sushruta Samhita, an ancient Sanskrit text on medicine and surgery. Dhanteras is also first of the five days celebration of Deepavali, the festival of light. 

High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Shri Gopal Baglay was the Chief Guest at the seminar. Conveying his greetings on Dhanteras and Deepavali, High Commissioner highlighted the importance of Ayurveda as a holistic system of medicine that focuses on prevention of disease as well as promotion of health. He underlined the fact that Ayurveda, as a natural system of medicine, promotes harmony of the body and the environment. 

He highlighted the contribution of Buddhism to the development and spread of Ayurveda and recalled the important roles played by world renowned Indian universities, such as Nalanda, Takshila, and Vikramshila, as well as noted Buddhist scholars and vaidya physicians, such as Vagbhata and Nagarjuna, in the development and spread of Ayurveda.

University of Colombo Institute of Indigenous Medicine Director Senior Prof. Priyani Paranagama graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. Addressing the participants, she highlighted the significance of the centuries old tradition of Ayurveda as a system of medicine and noted that the western medicinal science is increasingly taking note of Ayurveda. Department of Ayurveda Commissioner Dr. Dhammika Abeygunawardhana also attended the seminar. Other distinguished speakers from Sri Lanka included Ayurvedic Physician and Ayurveda Medical Council former Registrar, and Sri Lanka Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plants Project former Director Dr. Danister L. Perera; University of Colombo Institute of Indigenous Medicine Department of Ayurveda Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics Senior Lecturer and Consultant Physician in National Ayurveda Teaching Hospital, Colombo Dr. Pathirage Kamal Perera; and Consultant Paediatrician and Clinical Allergist Dr. Ajith Amarasinghe.

Eminent speakers from India included Dr. Amit Singh, the Chief Medical Officer of Arogyadham, an integrative Medicine Hospital in Bangalore; SDM College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Karnataka Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana Prof. Dr. Govinda Sharma; SDM College of Ayurveda and Hospitals Department of Manasaroga Head and Research and Development Dean Prof. Dr. Suhas Kumar Shetty; Vivekananda Health Global – Chain of Integrative medicine based centres Medical Director and Co-Founder Dr. Vasudha Sharma; and Rajiv Gandhi Education Society’s Ayurvedic Medical College, Karnataka Consultant and Associate Professor Dr. Shreyes S. 

From Singapore, Clinical Researcher and Author, Ayurveda Yoga Therapy Consultant and Union Yoga Ayurveda Director Dr. Satyam Tripathi also spoke on the occasion. 

The scholars highlighted the significance of Ayurveda in eradicating impurities, boosting immunity, and maintaining harmony in life. They also elucidated the role of diet, herbs, and spices in Ayurvedic treatment. The webinar was attended by about 100 participants, which included students of Ayurveda from Sri Lanka and India. 

The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy (abbreviated as AYUSH) of Government of India and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine have undertaken a series of initiatives for promotion, education, research and propagation of indigenous alternative medicine systems. Both the Ministries have also released specific guidelines that boost immunity and promote good health and hygiene to help combat the coronavirus.