1. Government organised the birth anniversary of Santh Sevalal Maharaj, the religious leader of the Banjara community for the first time
Tags: National News
For the first time, the Union Ministry of Culture is organising a year-long festival to mark the 284th birth anniversary of Santh Sevalal Maharaj, the spiritual and religious leader of the Banjara community.
An overview of the news:
This jubilee year program started on February 26, 2023 under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Under this, a two-day program was organised as a part of the 284th birth anniversary celebrations on February 26-27, 2023 at Dr. Ambedkar International Center in New Delhi.
Home Minister Amit Shah was invited as the chief guest in this program.
For the last 3 years, New Delhi based Santh Sevalal Maharaj Charitable Trust has been celebrating it in Delhi.
Santh Sevalal Maharaj:
He was born on February 15, 1739 at Suragondankoppa in Shivamogga district of Karnataka.
He is considered a social reformer and spiritual teacher of the Banjara community.
Due to his extraordinary knowledge, excellent skills and spiritual background in Ayurveda and Naturopathy, he was able to dispel the myths and superstitions prevalent in the tribal communities and improve their lives.
In states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Santh Sevalal Maharaj is the revered icon of every Banjara family.
In February, the birth anniversary of Santh Sevalal Maharaj ji is celebrated with great pomp in all these states.
The Samadhi Sthal of Santh Sevalal Ji is situated at Pohradevi in Manora Taluka of Washim District of Maharashtra, which is also known as Banjara Kashi.
The population of the Banjara community in the country is 10 to 12 crores.
2. ‘SMART’ program for Ayurveda professionals launched to regulate and boost R&D in Ayurveda
Tags: National Science and Technology
In order to regulate Ayurvedic medical education and boost the research and development in Ayurveda, the government has launched ‘SMART’ (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) program on 2 January 2023.
The SMART program has been jointly launched by the Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS). Both the Institutions come under the Union Ministry of Ayush.
The proposed initiative is conceptualized with an objective to identify, support and promote innovative research ideas in healthcare research areas through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.
The program was launched by Vaidya Jayant Deopujari, Chairman, NCISM and Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS in the presence of Prof. B. S. Prasad, President of Board of Ayurveda, NCISM and other senior officials.
Every year 23 October is observed as Ayurveda Diwas in India.
Union Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy)
- The Ministry of AYUSH was set up on the 9th of November 2014 to revive the knowledge of traditional Indian systems of medicine.
- It focuses on education and research in the fields of Ayurveda, Yoga Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.
- Minister of AYUSH: Sarbananda Sonowal
3. 9th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo 2022 inaugurated in Goa
Tags: place in news Summits
The 4 day (8-11 December ) 9th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) was inaugurated on 8 December 2022 at Panaji, Goa in the presence of Union Minister of State for Tourism and Shipping, Ports and Waterways Shripad Naik and the Chief Minister of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant.
The main objective of the conference is to provide a global platform for all the stakeholders, including industry leaders, practitioners etc to strengthen the Ayurveda sector, envision its future, and facilitate interaction between professionals and consumers to boost Ayurveda commerce.
Theme of the 9th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo 2022: Ayurveda for One Health.
A MoU was signed between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and Rosenberg’s European Academy of Ayurveda, Germany to facilitate advanced studies in traditional Indian medicine systems.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the valedictory function of WAC on 11 December.
Every year 23 October is observed in India as Ayurveda Day.
4. Ayurveda Day
Tags: Important Days
The 7th Ayurveda Day is being observed all over India on 23 October 2022. Ayurveda day is observed on Dhanwantari Jayanti and this year it is being observed on 23 October 2022. All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), under the Ministry of Ayush, is the nodal agency for implementing the Ministry of Ayush’s mandate for Ayurveda Day this year. The first Ayurveda day was observed in 2016.
Ayurveda Day 2022
As part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav the Government of India organized a six week long programme (12th September-23rd October) to interact with and sensitize the people so that the message of Ayurveda can percolate down to all levels.
The main event on Ayurveda Day was held in New Delhi by the Ministry of Ayush and the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda was the Chief Guest.
Theme of the Ayurveda Day 2022
The theme of Ayurveda Day 2022 is “Har Din Har Ghar Ayurveda” so as to propagate benefits of Ayurveda to larger and grass root communities.
Who was Dhanwantari?
The original conception of Ayurveda in its entirety is essentially linked to Dhanwantari who is considered as God of Hindu Medicine.
Dhanwantari is considered a mythical deity born with ambrosia (Amrit) in one hand and Ayurveda on the other at the end of the churning of milk ocean (Samudra Manthan). He reincarnated himself in the Chandra dynasty. He was born to King Dhanwa, learnt Ayurveda from Bharadwaja.
His great grandson Divodasa was also known as Dhanwantari, but was specialised only in the surgical branch of Ayurveda. Sushruta, is said to have learnt the art of science of surgery from Divodasa Dhanwantara.
5. 9th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo
Tags: National National News
Union Minister of AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the Curtain Raiser (a small event that happens before a bigger one and is a preparation for it) for the 9th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) and Arogya Expo in Panaji on 13 October.
Important facts
The event will be held in Goa from December 8 to December 11, 2022.
The event is supported by the Central Government and State Governments as well as the Union Ministry of AYUSH.
The four-day event will see participation from over 5000 Ayurveda stakeholders – industry stalwarts, practitioners, traditional healers, academics, students, drug makers, medicinal plant growers as well as marketing strategists from across the globe.
Due to the efforts of the Government of India, the market turnover of AYUSH sector has grown from USD 3 billion to more than USD 18 billion in the last 8 years.
Every year on October 23, Ayurveda Day is celebrated by the Ministry of AYUSH on Dhanwantri Jayanti.
The motto of this year's celebration is "Har Din Har Ghar Ayurveda" (Ayurveda Everyday, Ayurveda Everywhere).
All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi is the nodal agency for the implementation of this programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that Goa is planning to become a premier Ayurveda and Health Tourism Center based on several initiatives.
6. UK Parliament honours Tanuja Nesari with Ayurveda Ratna award
Tags: Awards International News
All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) Director Tanuja Nesri has been conferred with the Ayurveda Ratna Award by the UK Parliament.
The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Indian Traditional Science (ITSappg) presented the award in recognition of his contribution to promoting the development of Ayurveda in India and abroad.
The award was presented on the occasion of International Day of Yoga (June 21).
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Indian Traditional Science was formed in 2014 with the aim of spreading the knowledge of Ayurveda, Yoga, Astrology, Vastu, Unani and Sangeet to the United Kingdom and abroad.
About All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)
Establishment - 2017
Headquarters - New Delhi
7. WHO Global centre for Traditional medicine in India
Tags: Popular National News
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has signed an agreement with the government of India to set up a WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The Agreement was signed on 25 March 2022 in Geneva by the Secretary, Ministry of Ayush Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, and Director General, WHO Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The Government of India will invest $250 million in the center .
The primary objective of GCTM is to harness the potential of traditional medicine from across the world through modern science and technology and improve overall health of the communities’ world over.
The WHO centre will be under the Ministry of AYUSH.
It is the only such centre on traditional medicine of WHO in the world.
Traditional Medicine
According to the WHO, Traditional medicine is the sum total of the knowledge, skill, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.
AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy)
The Ministry of AYUSH was set up on the 9th of November 2014 to revive the knowledge of traditional Indian systems of medicine.
It focuses on education and research in the fields of Ayurveda, Yoga Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.
Minister of AYUSH: Sarbananda Sonowal
World Health Organisation (WHO)
The World Health Organisation is a specialised agency of the United Nations which was founded on 7 April, 1948.
Every year 7 April is celebrated as “World Health Day”.
Headquarters of WHO : Geneva, Switzerland
Director General of WHO : Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia .
He was elected as WHO director General in 2017 and later re-elected in 2022 for a period of 5 years.
8. WHO Global centre for Traditional medicine in India .
Tags: National
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has signed an agreement with the government of India to set up a WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
The WHO centre will be under the Ministry of AYUSH.
It is the only such centre on traditional medicine of WHO in the world.
Traditional Medicine
According to the WHO, Traditional medicine is the sum total of the knowledge, skill, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.
AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy)
The Ministry of AYUSH was set up on the 9th of November 2014 to revive the knowledge of traditional Indian systems of medicine.
It focuses on education and research in the fields of Ayurveda, Yoga Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.
Minister of AYUSH: Sarbananda Sonowal
World Health Organisation (WHO)
The World Health Organisation is a specialised agency of the United Nations which was founded on 7 April , 1948.
Every year 7 April is celebrated as “World Health Day”.
Headquarters of WHO : Geneva ,Switzerland
Director General of WHO : Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia .
He was elected as WHO director General in 2017 and later re-elected in 2022 for a period of 5 years .
9. Global Surya Namaskar on Makar Sankranti Day
Tags: National News
The Ministry of AYUSH( Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy ) is organising a global Surya Namaskar demonstration programme for 75 lakh people on January 14, the day of Makar Sankranti.
- This occasion commemorates thanksgiving to 'Mother Nature' for bestowing health, wealth and happiness.
- According to the ministry ,the Surya Namaskar has been known to develop immunity and improve vitality, which is significant to our health during pandemic conditions. Exposure to the Sun further provides the human body with Vitamin D, which has been widely recommended in all medical branches around the world.
- Surya Namaskar is a set of eight ‘asanas’ performed in 12 steps with coordination of the body and mind. It is preferably performed in the early morning.
Union Minister for AYUSH : Mr. Sabananda Sonowal