Ayurveda exhibition begins in city today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The city is all set to take its citizens on a journey towards the heart of the Indian system of health care - Ayurveda.  ‘Arogya Expo’ is being organised as part of the Global Ayurveda Festival-Kerala (GAF-K) to be held in the city during February 9-14. GAF-K will be an international academic platform where Ayurveda students, scientists, paramedics, medicinal plant cultivators, traders, patient groups and the general public could come and build up networking and productive collaborations.  International academicians, health care professionals, researchers, manufacturers, suppliers of raw materials, representatives of NGOs, regulatory authorities and civil society members from around the globe are expected to take part. The highlight of the Arogya Expo will be the awareness-cum-educational exhibition in the Ayush pavilion that brings together Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homoeo, Yoga and Naturopathy, in addition to the various traditional branches of Indian medicine and treatment systems.  There will be stalls set up by 17 Ayurveda colleges, both in government and private sector, on the specialities of various disciplines in Ayurveda. The display of several surgical tools and equipment that were in use in ancient India will surely attract attention. Over 1,000 medicinal plants that have been mentioned in ‘Charaka Samhita’ and ‘Hortus Malabaricus’ will also be showcased as part of the Expo.  Experts will describe the medicinal properties and values of these rare herbs that are found only in tropical areas in and around Kerala. An exclusive pavilion for the Rare, Endangered and Threatened (RET) species will also be set up with the aim of creating awareness among the public on the need for conserving these precious herbs. Multi-specialty Ayush Clinics with free consultation will also be open for the public from 9 am to 6 pm on all days of the festival. Renowned Ayurveda physicians will spearhead the clinics and awareness workshops, which will be open to public. This will also be a rare opportunity for the public to interact with experts in the field.  A trade fair, which has the Andhra Pradesh Department of Ayurveda as a partner, will have the participation of several institutions under the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Kinfra, Care Keralam, Department of Indian Systems of Medicine under the State Government and the top manufacturers of Ayurvedic medicines within and outside Kerala. There will be special pavilions in the Expo on toxicology, surgery, ophthalmology, paediatrics and so on. The unique exhibition on toxicology by the Parassinikadavu Snake Park will be an added attraction. The open air Nishagandhi auditorium has been converted into a giant closed hall for the mega event.