The biggest ever summit on ayurveda, second edition Global Ayurveda Fest(GAF) 2014, kick-started in the city on Thursday. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the event in the presence of the president of the Republic of Mauritius Rajkeswur Puryaag at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
‘Ayurveda in Public Health’ is the central theme of the fest, with focus on the strengths of ayurveda in public health against the backdrop of growing burden of new-age communicable diseases. As many as 350 foreign delegates, including Chief Minister, Sabaragamuwa Provine in Sri Lanka, Mahiepala Herath, former Minister of Indigenous Medicine Sri Lanka, Salinda Dissanayake MP and Sri Lankan Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine and B S B Yalegama, Sri Lanka, will be participating. A large Sri Lankan delegation is accompanying the ministers. A 50-member delegation from Germany and teams from France, Argentina, the UK, Italy, Singapore, and other countries will also participate.
The fest has been envisaged as a platform to galvanise the ayurveda sector to aspire, plan and achieve greater heights, both nationally and internationally. It has been planned with a view towards a popular resurgence to venerate the glory and splendour of a living heritage that every ayurveda exponent and fan will feel proud to embrace.
Free ayurveda specialty clinics, awareness programmes for students and public, scientific lectures, ayurveda and ethnic food carnivals, exhibition of rich medicinal plant diversity of India, ayurveda book fair and photography exhibition are part of festival.
The first ever Ayurveda Paramedics Conference and a meet of the Ayurveda Herbs Cultivators and Collectors are other specialties. The International Business Meet will be one of the most important highlights and this will be supported by the KSIDC. Country-wise presentations will also be made. The International Expo has about 350 stalls.
Seminars on Ayurveda in Public Health, International Cooperation Meet, Global Exhibition on Ayurveda - Arogya Expo, Ayurveda Solidarity Meets, Cultural Meet and a meet of the political leaders will be held.