Ayurveda Day to Be Celebrated Annually on 23 September

In a landmark move to globalize India’s traditional health wisdom, the Government of India has announced that Ayurveda Day will now be celebrated every year on 23 September, starting from 2025. This replaces the earlier practice of observing the day on Dhanvantari Jayanti. The theme for Ayurveda Day 2025 is “Ayurveda for People & Planet”, underlining Ayurveda’s relevance not just to personal health, but also to environmental harmony.

A Historic Shift for Ayurveda Day

Fixing the Date: 23 September

Since its inception in 2016, Ayurveda Day had been celebrated on Dhanteras, coinciding with Dhanvantari Jayanti, a date that varied each year based on the lunar calendar. By declaring 23 September as the fixed annual date through a Gazette Notification in March 2025, the government aims to give Ayurveda a permanent global identity, enabling consistent international observance and wider participation.

Theme 2025: Ayurveda for People & Planet

The theme for this year, “Ayurveda for People & Planet,” was announced by Union Minister Shri Prataprao Jadhav. It reflects a deeper narrative—Ayurveda as a science of life that promotes harmony between individuals and their environment. This outlook positions Ayurveda not merely as traditional medicine but as a solution to both personal wellbeing and planetary sustainability.

Growing Global Movement and Institutional Support

Global Reach Since 2016

Ayurveda Day has evolved into a global movement. In 2024, the day was observed in around 150 countries, indicating Ayurveda’s rising international stature. This growth is supported by data from the first all-India NSSO survey, which found Ayurveda to be the most commonly used treatment system across both rural and urban populations in India.

Institutional Milestones and Government Push

Ayurveda Day 2024 set the stage for the current momentum. Key initiatives included,

• Inauguration of Phase II of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi
• Launch of four Centres of Excellence in Ayurveda
• Introduction of the “Desh Ka Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyan” campaign
• Health-related investments worth ₹12,850 crore

These steps signaled a national commitment to scaling up Ayurveda’s research, education, and healthcare delivery systems.

Ayurveda in the Contemporary Context

Addressing Modern Challenges

• Ayurveda Day 2025 aims to highlight Ayurveda’s capacity to address modern health crises, such as:
• Lifestyle disorders like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension

Stress and mental health issues

• Diseases linked to environmental degradation and climate change
• The chosen theme ties individual wellness to ecological sustainability, promoting Ayurveda as a nature-aligned, preventive healthcare system.

Activities and Celebrations

Planned celebrations for 2025 will include,

• Public awareness campaigns on Ayurvedic health principles
• Youth engagement through schools and colleges
• Free wellness consultations and Panchakarma sessions
• Collaborative international seminars hosted by Ayush institutions

These activities are designed not just to celebrate Ayurveda, but to deepen public engagement and knowledge dissemination.