The Consulate General of India (CGI) in Auckland hosted the Ayurveda Day 2025 celebrations on 29 September through a well-attended online event. The session brought together experts, community leaders, and participants across New Zealand to learn, reflect, and celebrate the timeless science of Ayurveda.

Distinguished Speakers

Dr. Asmita Wele, Professor and Director of Research at Dr. D.Y. Patil College of Ayurved and Research Centre in Pune, India, joined the programme as the keynote speaker. She presented detailed insights into Ayurveda as a complement to modern allopathy, highlighting the vast repository of knowledge contained in ancient texts and recent clinical trials.

Dr. Ajit Singh, another respected speaker, guided the audience through the principles of Ayurveda, emphasizing its holistic approach to life, encompassing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. He explained how habits and thoughts are central to health and how Ayurveda offers practical frameworks to restore balance.

Ayurveda Through Time: Knowledge Shared

  • Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life – Dr. Wele reminded us that Ayurveda flows like a river, continuously adapting while retaining its essence.
  • Health and Longevity – The goal of Ayurveda, she said, is not only to add years to life but also life to years, focusing on healthy longevity.
  • Repository of Knowledge – Ayurveda documents over 30 disease classes, 200,000 conditions, and 7,000 herbs, with thousands of formulations now digitised.
  • Treatment Approaches – Ayurveda combines direct medical interventions with non-pharmacological methods, including diet, exercise, and yoga.
  • Research Examples – Dr. Wele shared global trials where Ayurveda showed effectiveness in conditions like osteoarthritis and coronary heart disease, sometimes matching conventional medicine in outcomes.

The Essence of Ayurveda

Dr. Ajit Singh simplified Ayurveda for the modern audience:

  • Not Just Herbs – Ayurveda is not only about herbal remedies; it is a way of life.
  • Causes of Disease – Rooted in lifestyle choices and mental states.
  • Daily Discipline – Following simple routines (Dinacharya and Ritucharya) helps maintain balance.
  • Body Intelligence – Ayurveda aims to preserve the body’s innate intelligence to fight toxins.
  • Holistic Vision – Beyond curing, Ayurveda emphasises preventive care, resilience, and spiritual balance.

Commendable Efforts and Participation

The event was well supported by the CGI Auckland team. Mr. Sanjeev Kumar from CGI and Coordinator Manisha, widely admired for her responsiveness and organisational skills, ensured the smooth running of the session. Their commitment was appreciated by attendees.

Community leaders representing several Indian organisations also joined, including leaders from Bihar Jharkhand Sabha, Uttarakhand Association, Telugu Association, and MATA Association. Their presence highlighted the strong community interest in Ayurveda’s relevance today.

Special mention was given to distinguished guests such as Shrikant Bhave and Rachana Kumar, who added to the depth of the discussion.

Ayurveda for Today and Tomorrow

The programme reflected a clear message: Ayurveda is not an alternative, but a partner to modern medicine. With growing lifestyle diseases, Ayurveda provides preventive strategies, diet recommendations, and mental-wellness practices that complement conventional care.

As Dr. Wele concluded, “Ayurveda adds quality to life, while allopathy adds years. Together, they can create a new era of medicine.”

✅ Credit: Consulate General of India, Auckland
📷 Picture Sources: Event screenshots and presentations