National Siddha Day is observed annually across India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sage Agathiyar, regarded as the father of the Siddha system of medicine, which coincides with the Ayilyam star in the Tamil month of Margazhi.
- The 9th National Siddha Day falls on 6 January 2026.
- The 8th National Siddha Day was observed on 19th December 2024.
Theme:
2026 Theme: “Siddha for Global Health”
Focus: The Theme highlights the relevance of the ancient Siddha system in addressing contemporary global health challenges.
Exam Hints:
- Event: National Siddha Day 2026
- When? 6th January 2026
- Edition: 9th
- Organiser: Ministry of AYUSH
- Theme 2026: Siddha for Global Health
- Father of Siddha: Sage Agathiyar
- Origin: Tamil Nadu
- 1st observance: On 4th January 2018
Background:
Approval: In 2017, the Ministry of AYUSH(Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) approved the annual observance of Agathiyar’s birthday as National Siddha Day.
First Observance: The First-ever National Siddha Day was observed on 4th January 2018.
About Agathiyar
Siddhars :According to Tamil tradition, Siddha medicine is based on the teachings of 18 Siddhars, with Agathiyar, the first Siddhar, revered as the father of Tamil literature.
Tamil Grammar :Agathiyar, who compiled the earliest Tamil grammar Agathiyam, is also believed to have authored around 96 works, including Vaidiya Sigamani, Chendooram–300, Mani–400, Sivajalam, and Sakthijalam.
Martial Arts: His major contributions include the development of Kalari, emphasizing unarmed combat, Varmam techniques, Varma therapy, Kalari healing practices, and Silambam.
About Siddha:
Philosophy: Siddha medicine focuses on maintaining harmony between the body, mind, and nature, guided by the core principle that “Food is Medicine; Medicine is Food.”
Three Humours: The system aims to balance the three humours: Vali (Wind), Azhal (Bile), and Aiyam (Phlegm), for overall well-being.
Dietary Balance: Ingredients like pepper, turmeric, cumin seeds, asafoetida, dried ginger, cardamom, fenugreek, and garlic are used to maintain health.
2026 Event:
Event: On 3rd January 2026, the Vice President of India, Chandrapuram Ponnusami (C. P.) Radhakrishnan, inaugurated the 9th Siddha Day celebrations at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, TN.
Organiser: The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of AYUSH, the National Institute of Siddha (NIS), the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), and the Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (DIMH), Government of TN.
Dignitaries Present: Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Prataprao Jadhav, Ministry of AYUSH; Ma. Subramanian, Minister for Health, Government of TN; and Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH.
Awards and Felicitations: During the event, the Ministry of AYUSH honored five eminent personalities for their outstanding contributions to the Siddha system of medicine.
- They are Dr. B. Michael Jeyaraj; Dr. T. Kannan Rajaram; Late Dr. I. Sornamariammal; Dr. Mohana Raj and Professor Dr. V. Banumathi
Global Recognition: Siddha is emphasized as a living tradition to be integrated with modern science, with its Morbidity Codes included in World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Diseases-11 (ICD-11) and international standard terminologies being developed.
About Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) :
Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC)- Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao (constituency- Buldhana, Maharashtra)
