World Ayurveda Congress Commences in Dehradun on Dec 12

DEHRADUN:
The 10th edition of the World Ayurveda Congress (WAC 2024) and Arogya Expo will get under way here on December 12, promising to impart further momentum to the global comeback of the time-tested Indian holistic wellness system.

In line with its focal theme, ‘Digital Health, An Ayurveda Perspective’,the four-day event will set the stage for in-depth deliberations on leveraging new technologies to more effectively deliver solutions and reconfigure R&D projects relating to Ayurveda.

The largest international conclave of Ayurvedic practitioners, researchers, administrators, diplomats, teachers and students, the biennial event is organised by the World Ayurveda Foundation (WAF), an initiative of Vijnana Bharati.

Partnering the WAF in this mega-event are the Ayush Ministry, Government of India, the governments of Uttarakhand and some other state governments, and leading ayurvedic institutions and establishments.

Saying that it is a matter of pride for the state to host WAC 2024, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami noted“Uttarakhand has been the land of Yoga and Ayurveda since ancient times.”

Describing Uttarakhand as “Pragya Bhoomi”, the Chief Minister said Ayurveda had flourished in this beautiful region because of its climatic purity, fertility and rich wealth of medicinal plants, where sages had conducted in-depth research and experiments.”

The term ‘digital health’ refers to the vast multidisciplinary approach that encompasses concepts from the intersection of technology and healthcare, said Dr Shekhar Mande, President,Vijnana Bharati.

Digital health platform scan play a vital role in delivering wellness solutions in various fields such as paediatrics, geriatrics, epidemics and pandemics, said Dr Mande.

“This edition of WAC is structured to evolve focused outcomes that can be leveraged to integrate new technologies, including AI (artificial intelligence), AR (augmented reality) and Blockchain, with Ayurveda in all its verticals,” he added.

More than 5500 participants from within India have registered to participate in the event, which will also be attended by over 350 delegates from 54 countries.

The event will feature over 150 scientific sessions and 13 associate events besides plenary sessions.An international delegates assembly, a health ministers’ conclave, investors’ meet, Guru-Shishya Meet, Conclave on Medicinal Plants, satellite seminars, etc.will keep the delegates engaged. The deliberations will also focus on how Ayurveda can address diverse health challenges.

Besides host state Uttarakhand, the governments of Gujarat, Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal are supporting the event as partner states.

While leading Ayurvedic establishments are collaborating with the conclave as institutional patrons,universities from across the country are participating as associates.

The Arogya Expo will showcase products and services from leading Ayurvedic institutions in India and abroad. The 350-plus stall are expected to attract 150,000 visitors.

Besides Dhami, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of AYUSH & Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav; Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH; Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, Managing Trustee, WAF; and Dr PM Varier, Managing Trustee, AVS Kottakkal& Chairman, National Organizing Committee WAC, will address the various sessions.

Founded in 2011, WAF is an initiative of Vijnana Bharati aimed at global outreach of Ayurveda, enlisting collaboration from the entire spectrum of stakeholders.

Goa’s capital Panaji hosted the previous edition of WAC in 2022.

WAC 2024 will build on the positive vibes created by previous editions, the organisers said.

The central themes of the earlier editions of WAC were Ayurveda & World Health, Globalisation of Ayurveda, Mainstreaming Ayurveda, Ayurveda for All, Enriching Public Health Through Ayurveda, Strengthening the Ayurveda Ecosystem, Realigning the Focus onHealth, and Ayurveda for One Health.