For thousands of years, Ayurveda has been part of India’s understanding of health, placing emphasis not only on treating illness but also on maintaining balance between the body, mind, lifestyle and the environment.
Every year, September 23 is observed as National Ayurveda Day in India, celebrating this traditional system of medicine and its continuing place in contemporary healthcare.
The date has a new significance. Until 2025, Ayurveda Day was observed on Dhanteras, meaning its date changed every year according to the lunar calendar. In March 2025, the Government of India officially designated September 23 as Ayurveda Day every year. The date was chosen partly because it coincides with the autumnal equinox, when day and night are approximately equal, symbolising the idea of balance that is central to Ayurveda.
The roots of Ayurveda
The word Ayurveda comes from two Sanskrit words, Ayus, meaning life, and Veda, meaning knowledge or science. Its foundational ideas are preserved in classical Sanskrit texts, particularly the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya.
Ayurveda developed as a comprehensive tradition concerned with health, diet, daily routines, medicinal plants, diagnosis and therapeutic practices. Its classical literature also contains specialised knowledge concerning surgery, including descriptions traditionally associated with Acharya Sushruta.
At the heart of Ayurveda is the idea that health involves maintaining equilibrium within the individual and between the individual and the surrounding environment. Concepts such as prakriti, dinacharya and the three doshas- Vata, Pitta and Kapha, form important parts of its traditional framework.
From tradition to a national healthcare system
Ayurveda has survived through centuries of social and cultural change and today exists alongside India’s modern healthcare system.
The Ministry of Ayush, established in 2014, is responsible for policy, development and promotion of Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine. Government institutions also support education, research, standardisation and healthcare delivery related to Ayurveda.
The Ministry’s Ayush Research Portal brings together research information relating to Ayurveda and other Ayush systems, including clinical, preclinical and drug research. This reflects the growing emphasis on documenting traditional practices through systematic research and evidence.
Why Ayurveda Day matters
National Ayurveda Day is not simply a celebration of India’s medical heritage. It is also an opportunity to discuss how traditional knowledge can be responsibly understood and used in the present.
Over the years, Ayurveda Day campaigns have focused on themes ranging from everyday wellness to global health. The 2024 observance, for example, was organised around “Ayurveda Innovations for Global Health”, while the 2025 campaign highlighted “Ayurveda for People and Planet.”
The emphasis on innovation is significant. Ayurveda’s future cannot depend solely on its ancient identity. It also requires research, quality standards, trained practitioners, responsible manufacturing and clear communication about what is supported by evidence.
Ayurveda in everyday life
One reason Ayurveda continues to attract attention is its emphasis on preventive approaches and everyday habits. Concepts surrounding appropriate food, sleep, physical activity, seasonal routines and personal constitution encourage people to think about health as something that is maintained continuously rather than addressed only after illness appears.
At the same time, traditional remedies should not automatically be assumed to be safe or effective simply because they are described as natural or ancient. Ayurvedic medicines and therapies should be used appropriately, particularly when someone has an existing medical condition or is taking other medicines. Qualified practitioners and evidence-based healthcare remain important.
A living heritage
Ayurveda’s journey from ancient texts to modern hospitals, research institutions and digital health platforms reflects the broader evolution of India’s traditional knowledge systems.
National Ayurveda Day therefore offers two ways of looking at this heritage: with respect for the knowledge preserved across generations, and with the responsibility to examine, research and apply it carefully in the present.
As India marks Ayurveda Day on September 23, the larger message is one of balance. Ayurveda’s enduring relevance may lie not simply in looking back at an ancient system, but in asking how its principles, where appropriate and supported by evidence, can contribute to healthier and more sustainable lives in a changing world.