Colombo, November 6 (newsin.asia): On the occasion of the 6th Ayurveda Day, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center, the cultural arm of the High Commission of India, Colombo, organised a seminar on 2nd November, 2021 on the theme “Ayurveda for Poshan”, in a hybrid mode. A limited number of participants attended the seminar at the Center 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 popularization 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.
The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. 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.
Senior Prof. Priyani Paranagama, Director of the Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, 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. Dr. Dhammika Abeygunawardhana, Commissioner, Department of Ayurveda, also attended the seminar.
Other distinguished speakers from Sri Lanka included Dr. Danister L. Perera, Ayurvedic Physician, former Registrar of Ayurveda Medical Council, former Director of Sri Lanka Conservation and Sustainable use of Medicinal Plants Project; Dr. Pathirage Kamal Perera, Senior Lecturer, Department of Ayurveda Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics, Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Consultant Physician in National Ayurveda Teaching Hospital, Colombo; and Dr. Ajith Amarasinghe, Consultant Pediatrician and Clinical Allergist.
Eminent speakers from India included Dr. Amit Singh, Chief Medical Officer, Arogyadham, an integrative Medicine Hospital in Bangalore; Prof. Dr. Govinda Sharma, Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, SDM College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Karnataka; Prof. Dr. Suhas Kumar Shetty, Head-Department of Manasaroga, Dean of Research & Development, SDM College of Ayurveda and Hospitals; Dr. Vasudha Sharma, Medical Director and Co-founder of Vivekananda Health Global- Chain of Integrative medicine based centers; and Dr. Shreyes S., Consultant & Associate Professor, Rajiv Gandhi Education society’s Ayurvedic Medical College, Karnataka.
From Singapore, Dr. Satyam Tripathi, Clinical Researcher and Author, Ayurveda Yoga Therapy Consultant, and Director, Union Yoga Ayurveda, 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.
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