Who is Dhanvantri, why he is linked to Dhanteras, Ayurveda Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched health-linked projects worth nearly Rs 12,850 crore on October 29, which is the ninth Ayurveda Day and also the festival of Dhanteras. The national Ayurveda Day is celebrated on Dhanvantri Jayanti, or what is believed to be the birth anniversary of god Dhanvantri. Why is Dhanvantri’s birth anniversary observed as Ayurveda Day? Also, why is he worshipped on Dhanteras? We explain. What is Ayurveda Day? Ayurveda is the ancient Indian school of medicine that focuses on holistic well-being. The central government started Ayurveda Day celebrations in 2016 to create more awareness about Ayurveda. The birth anniversary of Dhanvantri was chosen to mark this day, as Dhanvantri is considered the physician of Gods. He is also considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Dhanvantari is often depicted with four hands, holding a pot of amrita, a discus, a conch, and a leech. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) “The term Ayurveda denotes the “knowledge of life”. Government of India has been observing Ayurveda Day every year on Dhanawantari Jayanti (Dhanteras) since 2016 to …






