The 11th Ayurveda Day 2026 was observed across the country with a range of public awareness, community outreach, academic, wellness and student engagement activities organised by Ayush institutions.
The Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Jhansi, conducted Ayurveda pledge and yoga camps, educational visits, cleanliness and medicinal plant drives, a “Run for Ayurveda”, webinars, public awareness programmes and competitions in painting, rangoli and quizzes. The activities engaged students, youth, staff and members of the public on Ayurveda, yoga and healthy lifestyles.
The R.R.A. Podar Central Ayurveda Research Institute (RRAP-CARI), Mumbai, organised a webinar on “Research Innovation, Patenting and Entrepreneurship in Ayurveda”, wellness programmes for CISF personnel and an Ayurveda Walkathon at Kharghar, which saw the participation of more than 200 people. The institute also held an Ayurveda Aahar cooking competition, a drawing competition for schoolchildren, an Ayush Food Festival and cleanliness activities, besides distributing more than 100 medicinal plant saplings. The celebrations concluded with a valedictory programme on September 23.
The Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI), Gangtok, observed Ayurveda Day at ICAR, Tadong, with participation from researchers, healthcare professionals and scholars associated with Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Sowa-Rigpa and other traditional systems. Technical sessions focused on Ayurveda’s role in health and well-being and its relevance to contemporary healthcare needs, facilitating knowledge sharing among practitioners and scholars from different traditional healthcare systems.
The Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Kolkata, organised medicinal plant and raw drug exhibitions, yoga demonstrations, IEC material distribution, medical camps, an Ayush Aahar Festival and competitions in rangoli, slogans, posters and quizzes. It also conducted awareness programmes through Akashvani and Doordarshan and a webinar on geriatric healthcare through Ayurveda. The celebrations concluded with Dhanvantari Puja and a programme focusing on Ayurveda, scientific research, evidence-based healthcare and holistic well-being.
The Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI), Ahmedabad, conducted public awareness lectures on Ayurveda, healthy lifestyles, diet and disease prevention, along with poster-making and rangoli competitions. An Ayurveda quiz and elocution competition for students was organised in collaboration with Shri Balahnuman Ayurveda College, Lodara, and Government Akhandanand Ayurveda College, Ahmedabad. The institute also held interactive sessions on Ayurveda and healthy living for staff of the Reserve Bank of India, CISF and ONGC.
The Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI), Itanagar, conducted awareness lectures and a “Selfie with 11th Ayurveda Day” campaign, besides distributing 134 medicinal plant saplings between September 9 and 23. The institute also organised a health camp, essay competition and herbal garden initiative at PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, Chimpu. A webinar, medicinal plant exhibition and cleanliness drive were also held, engaging students, patients, visitors and the wider community.
The Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI), Gwalior, organised lectures, public awareness programmes, medicinal plant distribution and exhibitions, a “Run for Ayurveda” and other health-promoting activities. The programmes focused on Ayurveda’s role in healthy lifestyles, disease prevention and holistic well-being, with an emphasis on integrating Ayurvedic principles with modern scientific research and promoting evidence-based knowledge. The celebrations concluded with Dhanvantari Puja on September 23, with participation from institute officials, scientists, staff and students.
The North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy (NEIAH), Shillong, conducted activities from September 9 to 23, including free health camps, medicinal plant and plantation drives, student outreach, yoga sessions, academic lectures, competitions and public awareness programmes. The programme also featured an Ayush Food Festival, Open Day, radio talk, medicinal plant awareness campaign and a student reel-making competition. It concluded with Dhanvantari Puja, a plantation drive and a valedictory programme.
The National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN), Pune, organised a plantation drive at its Nisarg Gram campus. NIN Director Prof. (Dr.) Geetha Shetty inaugurated the drive, in which faculty members and experts planted medicinal species including Bilva, Shatavari, Arjuna, Guduchi and Ghrita Kumari (Aloe vera).
At the Ayurveda Treatment Centre (ATC), Safdarjung Hospital, CCRAS-CARI, New Delhi, an academic lecture on “Alternative Systems of Medicine in India” was organised on September 23 as part of the Ayurveda Day celebrations. Dr Shivshankar Rajput, In-charge of the ATC, delivered the lecture to 164 first-year MBBS students and faculty members of VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The session covered Ayurveda, its fundamental principles and therapeutic approaches, and their relevance to contemporary healthcare. Participants were also briefed on the role and organisational structure of the Ministry of Ayush, its key initiatives and schemes, major reforms and ongoing research in Ayurveda.
The nationwide activities reflected the focus of Ayush institutions on public health awareness, healthy lifestyles, nutrition, academic engagement, scientific research and community outreach under the theme “Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow”.
