The Ministry of Ayush, along with the National Institute of Siddha, the Central Council for Research in Siddha, and the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, will celebrate the 9th Siddha Day on 3 January 2026 at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai. The event marks the birth anniversary of Sage Agathiyar, regarded as the father of Siddha medicine. Siddha Day is observed annually on 6 January. The 2026 theme is Siddha for Global Health.
Key Dignitaries
The Vice President of India, C. P. Radhakrishnan, will inaugurate and preside over the celebration. The event will also be attended by Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush; Ma. Subramanian, Tamil Nadu Health Minister; Padma Shri Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush; Dr. P. Senthil Kumar, Principal Secretary, Tamil Nadu Health Department; and M. Vijayalakshmi, Director, Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy.
Participation and Outreach
The programme will bring together Siddha practitioners, scientists, academicians, scholars, and students from Tamil Nadu and other States. Participants will include members of Siddha statutory bodies, researchers from NIS and CCRS, and officials from the Union and State governments. Students from Government Siddha Medical Colleges in Chennai and Palayamkottai, along with self-financing Siddha colleges in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, are expected to attend in large numbers.
Focus on Siddha Medicine
The celebrations will show Siddha medicine’s role in preventive health, research, and global wellness. The event is intended to strengthen awareness of Siddha as a traditional medical system and to support its integration into healthcare delivery, academic study, and research collaboration. It also reflects efforts to expand the international recognition of India’s traditional systems of medicine.
Recognition and Policy Significance
On the occasion, five eminent personalities will be felicitated for their contribution to Siddha medicine. The observance underlines the government’s broader commitment to innovation in traditional medicine and to promoting Siddha within national and global health frameworks.
Last Modified: April 25, 2026