Kozhikode: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the five-day Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF) and Arogya Expo at the Swapna Nagari here beginning January 31.
The GAF considered to be largest biennial get-together of the ayurveda fraternity, is into its third edition. The preceding conferences organised in Thiruvananthapuram in 2012 and Kochi in 2014 had made the GAF into an internationally recognised event for ayurveda patrons. Prior to the main programme, a Grant Kerala Ayurveda Fair will be held throughout the State. Minister for Health V.S. Sivakumar will inaugurate the fair in Thiruvananthapuram at the Government Ayurveda College on Thursday.
In connection with the GAF, such fairs will be held in all districts from January 14 to 28, The Hindu reported.
This includes seminars, road shows, awareness campaigns, free health camps for women and children, the organisers B.G. Abhilash, Jabir Uralloor , N.P. Rajiv, K. Pushavelli and Manoj Kaloor, said here on Wednesday.
The programme in Kozhikode will be held on the beach from Friday afternoon. Noted Kathakali artiste Guru Chemmencherry Kunhiraman Nair will inaugurate the fair.
The GAF is being organised by the Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action in association with the State government, Department of ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy (AYUSH), Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisations of India, Ayurveda Drug Manufactures Association and Kerala State Indian Systems of Medicine of Medicine Self Financing Management Association, State Department of AYUSH, Department of Tourism and Department of Industry.
About 5,000 delegates including practitioners and students, manufactures, hospitals, medical plant growers, government and non-government agencies, service organisations, and civil society organisations from 50 countries will take part in the conference.