Dhanvantari Jayanti and health day celebrated nationwide

Kathmandu: Dhanvantari Jayanti and Health Day, observed annually on Kartik Krishna Trayodashi, are being celebrated across the country today with various programs. The day commemorates the birth of Lord Dhanvantari, the founder of Ayurveda, the ancient Vedic medical system based on forest herbs.

According to the Nepal Panchang Nirikh Bikas Samiti, Dhanvantari Jayanti falls on the day of Trayodashi in the morning. Vedic Sanatan Hindu scriptures mention that Lord Dhanvantari was born on Kartik Krishna Trayodashi during the churning of the ocean by gods and demons, emerging with an amrit kalash to heal the sick. Ayurvedic practitioners regard this day as an auspicious time to make good intentions and begin new undertakings.

The formal celebration of Dhanvantari Jayanti in Nepal began after the establishment of the Ayurveda Campus in Naradevi, Kathmandu. Initially known as the Royal Ayurveda College, the campus functioned as a teaching hospital under the Ayurveda Hospital. Since 2029 BS, it has operated as a constituent campus under the Institute of Medical Sciences at Tribhuvan University and is now located in Kirtipur.

Lord Dhanvantari is worshipped on this occasion, and since 2056 BS, Dhanvantari Jayanti has also been celebrated as Health Day through the efforts of individuals in the Ayurveda sector. Lord Dhanvantari, who holds a book of Ayurveda—one of the four Upavedas of Vedic Hindu philosophy—and herbs symbolizing nature’s medicine, is revered as the founder of Ayurvedic medicine.

Various programs are being organized today at Singha Durbar Vaidya Khana Bikas Samiti, Ayurveda Hospital Nardevi, Ayurveda Campus Kirtipur, Ayurveda Campus Dang of Nepal Sanskrit University, Herb Production and Processing Company Limited in Koteshwor, and several private Ayurveda hospitals.

Ayurveda has proven effective in strengthening the human immune system against diseases such as coronavirus and dengue. The Nepal Health Research Council is currently researching the effectiveness of Ayurvedic medicines in treating coronavirus. The demand for Gurjo, an herb known for boosting immunity, has risen sharply, along with other herbal medicines. According to the Singha Durbar Vaidya Khana Bikas Samiti, the demand for Ayurvedic medicines has increased fourfold compared to previous years.