Central Ayurveda Research for Drug Development to observe Dhanvantari Divas on November 5

Kolkata: The Central Ayurveda Research for Drug Development in Salt Lake has taken up a month long programme to observe Dhanvantari Divas on November 5.

The institution under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences has been conducting various awareness programmes at its premises in Salt Lake for the past few days where

knowledge is being disseminated among people from various walks of life.

Public lectures are being conducted to spread awareness on how various ailments can be checked by adopting one of the traditional and oldest methods of treatment.

Dr Achintya Mitra, a research officer of the 50-day countdown programme for celebration of Ayurveda Day 2018 said awareness camps have been conducted at various places where trainings are being provided on a healthy life style.

Various herbs and medicinal plants are also being distributed among people at free of cost. Trainings are also being provided on how to identify the medicinal plants.

Dhanvantari Divas is also celebrated as the Ayurveda Day. It may be mentioned that according to Hindu mythology, Dhanvantari is an avatar of Vishnu. He appears in the Vedas and Puranas as the physician of the gods and the god

of Ayurveda.

A marathon would also be organised in Salt Lake on November 5 to aware people about Ayurveda which is one of the oldest forms of treatment in India and how people can prevent

various ailments only through a change in the lifestyle and food habit.

Dr Sushovan Paul, President of Bengal chapter of the National Ayurveda Students and Youth Association said: "Ayurveda is an integral part of the country's progress. It is not only a treatment but a philosophy of life as well. Ayurvedic treatment was introduced in Bengal in Gupta Era.

Due to the apathy of the government at the Center, Ayurveda could not be promoted on a large scale. We are thankful to the present government for its new initiative."