Indian Yoga added to UNESCO’s world of treasures
UNESCO adds Yoga to the list of intangible world heritage treasures
While Yoga, the ancient Indian philosophy for the mind-body discipline gets acceptance in the list of UNESCO’s intangible world heritage treasures at the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the AYUSH ministry in India seeks suggestions from global experts to turn India into a global hub for Ayurveda practice and research.
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik has sought suggestions and inputs from Ayurveda researchers and practitioners from across the world which can be incorporated in the AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) Ministry’s works related to streamlining the study and practice of this traditional health science in the country. The AYUSH Ministry is making concerted efforts for systematic development of Ayurveda and other traditional medicines, stated the minister. Naik was speaking at the valedictory function of the 7th World Ayurveda Congress, held in Kolkata on December 1-4.
UNESCO embraces Yoga
On December 1, the Paris-based UN body met in Addis Ababa to discuss the implementation and addition of various cultural and heritage practices in the UNESCO intangible list. The World Heritage Committee said in a statement that the Indian society has influence in all the sectors including health, medicine, education and arts.
A tweet from UNESCO read, “Designed to help individuals build self-realisation, ease any suffering they may be experiencing and allow for a state of liberation, (yoga) is practiced by the young and old without discriminating against gender, class or religion.”
The updated list now comprises of 814 cultural sites, 203 natural ones and 35 with both natural and cultural qualities. Some of the new additions apart from Yoga were Cuba’s rumba dance, Belgium’s beer culture, Peruvian scissor dance etc.
#Yoga now in the #UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage.It can bring more peace and harmony in a world full of turmoils.
— Jo Leinen (@jo_leinen) December 1, 2016
World Ayurveda Congress
Shripad Naik, during the event in the capital city of West Bengal, remarked that there has been a resurgence of interest in this traditional healthcare system world over in the last two decades. One of the reasons for it is that Ayurveda advocates preventive healthcare method of treatment. The minister disclosed that Ministry of AYUSH has already signed a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with institutions in different countries for bilateral co-operation in research and knowledge-sharing in the field of Ayurveda and other traditional form of medicines. The ministry is working with other agencies, institutions and all concerned to turn India into a global hub for knowledge, research, practice and developmental projects on traditional medicines. Applauding the hard work showcased by the organisers of the 7th World Ayurveda Congress, which is a platform that brought together Ayurveda experts from all over the world, he said that it supports the government’s aim to build awareness and sensitise people about the uniqueness of Ayurveda. The minister declared that the World Ayurveda Congress 2017 will be held at Gandhinagar in the western state of Gujarat.
The dignitaries present on the occasion included Kerala’s Minister of Health, Shailaja Teacher, Sri Lanka’s Provincial Minster of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Lakshman Wendaruwa and Vijanan Bharati’s National President Dr Vijay Bhatkal among others. More than 500 delegates from different parts of the world participated in the event held for the first time in Kolkata, one of the few cities of India, where Ayurveda has been practised for the last 200 years or more.
