The Integrated Medical Association (IMA-Ayush) marked its 40th Foundation Day and Lord Dhanvantari Day at the NDMC Auditorium in New Delhi. Prof. (Dr.) P. K. Prajapati, Director of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), began the ceremony with a worship of Lord Dhanvantari. The program began with the Dhanvantari Vandana, followed by the Sur Jhankar Group performing the Lord Ganesha Vandana. The program also featured a stage performance depicting Lord Dhanvantari's appearance during the Samudra Manthan.
Distinguished guests included Dr Sushrut Kannaujia, Chairman of the Board of Ethics and Registration at the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), Government of India; Murli Manohar Pathak, Vice Chancellor of Lal Bahadur Shastri Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Delhi; and Rakesh Thapliyal, President of the National Union of Journalists, India. In his welcome, Dr Sushrut Kannaujia said that building a strong organisation is key to shaping the future of any institution.
The association recognised several professionals for their work in Ayurveda and public service. Prof. (Dr) K K Sizoriya and Dr Durga Prasad received the Dhanvantari Award, Dr Shubham Saini was given the Sushrut Award, and Dr Veena Himanshu Sharma received the Charak Award. Dr Purushottam Paliwal was honoured for donating blood 86 times, while Dr Fameda Kaushar and Dr Ayesha Parveen received Appreciation Awards. Dr Munish Gulati received the Dr J. S. Panwar Memorial Award, and Dr Vijendra Pal Singla received the Dr Hari Shankar Dev Sharma Memorial Award. The association also honoured doctors from different states.
Dr R. S. Chauhan, Patron of IMA-Ayush, spoke to the gathering about the organisation's forty years of promoting Ayurveda and protecting practitioners' rights. He said the association has helped advance the Indian system of medicine through ongoing advocacy and professional support.