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Ayurveda Day 2025 marks a shift from Dhanteras to a fixed date, with Ayurveda Day 2025 observed on September 23 to reflect Ayurveda's holistic balance philosophy.
PWOnlyIAS
May 14, 2025
Ayurveda Day is a national observance dedicated to promoting the significance and relevance of Ayurveda, India’s ancient system of holistic medicine. Traditionally celebrated on Dhanteras, the Indian government has now fixed September 23 as the permanent date for this observance. This shift, formalised through a Gazette Notification issued on March 23, 2025, represents a monumental step toward enhancing the consistency and global visibility of Ayurveda Day.
The declaration of Ayurveda Day 2025 reflects a visionary step by the Ministry of Ayush to enhance Ayurveda’s visibility and relevance in modern global health narratives.
Ayurveda Day is observed to celebrate Ayurveda, India’s ancient system of medicine, and its importance in promoting health, wellness, and preventive care. It serves as a platform to highlight Ayurveda’s scientific and evidence-based approach to maintaining the harmony of body, mind, and spirit.
Until 2024, Ayurveda Day was celebrated on Dhanteras, a festival that marks the beginning of Diwali and is associated with health and well-being. However, as Dhanteras follows a lunar calendar, its date changes every year, making it difficult to organise consistent Ayurveda Day celebrations both nationally and globally.
| Ayurveda Day 2025 | |
| Feature | Details |
| Event Name | Ayurveda Day 2025 |
| New Fixed Date | 23rd September 2025 |
| Previous Date | Dhanteras (based on lunar calendar, varies each year) |
| Reason for Change | To ensure consistency and global visibility |
| Symbolic Significance | Coincides with the autumnal equinox – represents balance in nature |
| Core Philosophy of Ayurveda | Holistic balance between body, mind, and spirit |
| Announced By | Ministry of Ayush, Government of India |
| Official Gazette Notification | Issued on 23rd March 2025 |
| Why We Celebrate Ayurveda Day? | To promote Ayurveda as a scientific, sustainable, and preventive healthcare system |
| Ministry of Ayush Objectives | Promotion, education, research, quality assurance, international cooperation, and public awareness on Ayurveda and other Ayush systems |
| Significance in 2025 | First-year Ayurveda Day will be observed on a globally fixed calendar date |
As of 2025, Ayurveda Day will be celebrated every year on September 23. This date coincides with the autumnal equinox, a natural event when day and night are almost equal, symbolising balance in nature—a core principle of Ayurveda.
The choice of September 23 reflects the essence of Ayurveda, which advocates for a balanced lifestyle in harmony with nature. The equinox represents equilibrium and cosmic balance, aligning perfectly with Ayurvedic principles that seek to maintain balance between Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—the three doshas (bio-energies) in the body.
The aim of Ayurveda Day is not only to honour the legacy of Ayurveda but also to encourage its integration into everyday preventive healthcare systems. Ayurveda, a Sanskrit term meaning “science of life,” promotes a balanced lifestyle and emphasises the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. It is recognised as a time-tested, evidence-based, and sustainable approach to wellness that is particularly relevant in today’s health-conscious world.
The day is marked by a wide range of activities including seminars, public outreach campaigns, medical camps, and educational initiatives to raise awareness about the benefits of Ayurveda. It also celebrates the contributions of Ayurvedic practitioners and researchers who work tirelessly to modernise and validate this ancient system.
According to the Ministry of Ayush, the fluctuating dates of Dhanteras in the upcoming decade, from as early as October 15 to as late as November 12, pose logistical challenges for organising coordinated Ayurveda Day events.
To resolve this, a committee of experts was formed to identify a fixed date. Out of four proposed options, September 23 was selected based on both practical feasibility and its symbolic relevance to Ayurvedic philosophy.
This decision is not merely administrative but deeply philosophical and strategic, allowing India to:
Established on 9th November 2014, the Ministry of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) was created to revive and promote traditional Indian systems of medicine. Before this, the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H), formed in 1995, managed these responsibilities. It was later renamed as the Department of Ayush in 2003, reflecting a broader commitment to health research and education.
With the global health community shifting towards preventive and lifestyle-based healthcare, the celebration of Ayurveda Day 2025 on a fixed date opens new routes for international collaboration. It paves the way for:
India’s decision to observe Ayurveda Day on September 23 sets a universal benchmark for adopting traditional wisdom in modern healthcare systems.
Ayurveda Day 2025 marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to elevate its ancient medical wisdom to global prominence. By officially observing it on September 23, the government has provided a stable and meaningful date that not only respects Ayurveda’s deep-rooted philosophy but also ensures better coordination for national and international celebrations.
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