India fixes September 23 to be celebrated as Ayurveda Day every year

In a strategic decision to impart more international attention and consistency to the celebration of Ayurveda Day, the Government of India has formally announced 23rd September as the fixed date for its celebration every year. 

This was notified through a Gazette Notification in March 2025, in place of the previous practice of fixing Ayurveda Day on the day of Dhanteras, a festival dependent on the Hindu lunar calendar.

Ayurveda Day has been a long-standing platform to showcase Ayurveda's scientific and holistic contributions to preventive health and wellness. Yet, since Dhanteras falls on different dates every year—around mid-October to mid-November—the observance of Ayurveda Day was not consistent, making national planning and international outreach challenging.

In order to solve this, the Ministry of Ayush established a specialized committee to assess different dates. Following the assessment of several possibilities, the panel suggested the 23rd of September, corresponding with the autumn equinox, a day representing equal balance of day and night. 

This natural balance echoes the Ayurvedic concept of balance between the mind, body, and soul, thus a deeply symbolic decision.
The Ministry stressed that a fixed date will make logistics easier, increase visibility, and promote wider participation from global health communities, researchers, and wellness advocates.

It has appealed to the public, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and international organizations to observe September 23rd every year as Ayurveda Day, promoting India's ancient system of medicine on the international stage and reaffirming its relevance in contemporary, sustainable healthcare.