Tag: Ayurveda

Health

Goa Advances as Hub for Integrative Oncology: AIIA Hosts Second Stakeholder Deliberation Meeting

Tanisha Cardozo

Dhargal, Goa – August 2025: In a defining moment for the future of holistic cancer care in India, the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa, successfully hosted the Second Stakeholder Deliberation Meeting on Integrative Oncology at its Dhargal campus. The meeting, in collaboration with the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, is set to position Goa as a national model for integrative oncology.

The meeting was opened by Dr. Sujata Kadam, Dean of AIIA Goa, and Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, Director of ACTREC – Tata Memorial Centre. The event brought together experts from modern oncology, Ayurveda, digital health, research, and policy-making, reflecting a true multi-disciplinary approach to healthcare.

  • Dr. Vikram Gota presented ACTREC’s initiatives in collaborative research and digital integration for oncology.
  • Dr. Sujata Kadam outlined AIIA’s infrastructure and implementation plan for an integrative cancer care framework.
  • Dr. Anura Bale discussed medicinal plant cultivation strategies for therapeutic support.
  • Dr. Shekhar Salkar, Senior Oncologist, proposed a joint tumor board merging modern and AYUSH oncologists.
  • Dr. Devdutt M. Sail introduced the vision of a National Integrative Oncology Grid to unify protocols and standardize practices.

The day also included the formation of committees, protocol discussions, and an institutional audit of AIIA Dhargal by ACTREC, DHS, and Goa Medical College.

In the evening, a high-level session at the Secretariat, Porvorim, was led by:

  • Dr. Mahesh Verlekar, Nodal Officer, NAM
  • Dr. Sujata Kadam, AIIA Goa
  • Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, ACTREC
  • Dr. Shekhar Salkar, Senior Oncologist

Arun Kumar Mishra, Secretary of Health, assured the Government of Goa’s full support for the initiative, stating that integrative oncology can redefine patient care and position Goa as a leader in evidence-based, patient-centric cancer treatment.

Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, commended the efforts and announced plans for an “Integrative Oncology Mission”, calling it a critical step toward holistic, accessible cancer treatment. He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to this mission, outlining policy direction, institutional support, and resource mobilisation.

The meeting saw active participation from policymakers, administrators, academic leaders, and clinicians, including:

  • Dr. Sudeep Gupta, Director, Tata Memorial Centre (virtual)
  • Dr. Yoguesh Bandale, Chairman, Rasayu Group (virtual)
  • Trupti Manerkar, Joint Secretary (Health)
  • Dr. Pooja Madkaikar, Director, Admin DHS
  • Dr. Nilesh Korde, Principal, Gomantak Ayurved College
  • Dr. Sneha Bhagwat, President, Goa Ayurveda Council
  • Dr. Manohar Gundeti, CARI, Mumbai
  • Dr. Sandip Sardesai, Goa Medical College
  • Dr. Vinayak Tembhurnikar, NIMA
  • Dr. Avinash Kadam, CSO, Rasayu Group

Their contributions enriched the discussions with diverse insights on education, clinical practices, research protocols, and policy alignment.

📍 Host: All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Dhargal
🤝 In Partnership With: ACTREC – Tata Memorial Centre
🗓️ Event: Second Stakeholder Deliberation on Integrative Oncology
🗣️ Chief Guest: Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister, Goa

Events in Goa

A Drink of Story and Spice: Hansel Vaz Reclaims the Soul of Feni

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

Panaji, Goa – July 2025: In the quiet gallery halls of the Museum of Goa, something potent was brewing. It wasn’t just a drink — it was a tale of fire, migration, alchemy, and rebirth. At his immersive session titled ‘Savour Flavour: Feni’s Aromatic Journey’, Hansel Vaz, the founder of Cazulo Feni, unraveled the forgotten and often misrepresented history of feni, Goa’s iconic double-distilled spirit.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMrmzZGNfLl/

For too long, feni has been dismissed — misunderstood in pop culture and sidelined from serious conversations around craft spirits. Vaz, a geologist-turned-distiller, known widely as the feni dotor, is here to change that narrative.

“Feni has been the most abused spirit in storytelling,” Vaz said. “It’s time to unlearn the clichés and rediscover it as a drink born of migration, spice trade, alchemy and medicinal knowledge.”

Through a blend of live tasting, storytelling, and historical exposition, Vaz mapped feni’s lineage back to the South American spice trade, explaining how chillies and cashews came to Goa by accident — but the transformation of the cashew into feni was an act of brilliant, local innovation.

Among the session’s highlights was Vaz’s deep dive into ancient techniques like fat-washing, botanical distillation, and the use of sarasparilla — an ayurvedic root — in making Dukshiri, a medicinal feni infusion once believed to relieve muscular aches.

“These aren’t just drinks,” Vaz reminded the audience. “They are rooted in history that wakes you up at dawn. Literally.”

The stories weren’t just historical — they were deeply personal. Vaz shared how a group of friends awoke unusually refreshed after drinking Dukshiri, a reflection of its medicinal roots. The anecdote wasn’t just quirky — it was a call to look deeper into what we’ve forgotten and what’s worth reviving.

He urged Goa’s emerging generation of distillers, chefs, bartenders, and foragers to innovate without diluting the drink’s essence. “We need to grow this movement — not bottle it for the masses, but experiment, preserve, and collaborate,” he said.

Vaz’s vision of feni isn’t limited to its taste. He sees it as an ecosystem — a drink made in conversation with nature, history, and local community traditions. A spirit not just of celebration, but of heritage.

Cazulo Feni, under Vaz’s leadership, continues to push the envelope — restoring faith in a drink that was once medicine, then myth, and now modernised through conscious revival.

With each pour, feni is reclaiming its place — not just on the shelf, but in Goa’s evolving cultural identity.

#AllycaralFeature 👒

All India Institute of Ayurveda, Goa Conducts ‘Harit Yoga’ Activities at Heritage Sites

allycaralgoa

Goa | June 2025 — In a harmonious blend of wellness, nature, and heritage, the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa, conducted a series of ‘Harit Yoga’ activities across several iconic heritage locations in Goa. The initiative is part of a nationwide campaign to promote environmental consciousness, traditional wellness practices, and cultural preservation through the ancient art of Yoga.

Heritage Meets Holistic Health

The Harit Yoga campaign, which integrates Yoga and environmental awareness, was carried out at Goa’s celebrated heritage sites including temples, forts, and historic coastal spots. Participants included Ayurveda students, yoga instructors, local residents, and tourists, all coming together to practice yoga in green, open-air, culturally rich environments.

AIIA officials emphasized the importance of connecting India’s ancient healing systems with its natural and cultural landscapes, encouraging people to view health through a holistic and sustainable lens.

Objectives of the ‘Harit Yoga’ Activities

🌿 Promote Green Living – Inspiring communities to adopt eco-friendly practices through mindful living and nature-based routines.

🧘‍♂️ Encourage Outdoor Yoga – Taking yoga beyond studios into spaces where cultural heritage and natural beauty coexist.

🏛️ Raise Awareness of Heritage Conservation – Highlighting the need to protect India’s historical landmarks while using them as serene venues for public wellness.

♻️ Support Swasthya and Sanskriti (Health and Heritage) – Bridging Ayurveda, Yoga, and India’s diverse cultural traditions in an inclusive public outreach model.

Highlights from the Sessions:

  • Morning yoga practices set against the scenic backdrops of heritage structures
  • Guided sessions led by certified yoga instructors and AIIA faculty
  • Short talks on Ayurvedic lifestyle, seasonal wellness, and environmental stewardship
  • Distribution of herbal saplings and eco-friendly wellness kits
  • Interactive discussions on the role of traditional health systems in modern sustainable living

“Harit Yoga is more than just physical exercise. It’s a spiritual and ecological alignment—connecting the body, mind, and environment,” said a senior faculty member from AIIA Goa.

Broader Impact and Future Plans

The initiative received strong community participation and was praised for innovatively combining cultural education, wellness outreach, and environmental action. The All India Institute of Ayurveda aims to continue such activities across other parts of Goa and extend the model to other states in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH.

As India gears up for International Day of Yoga, campaigns like Harit Yoga not only encourage the practice of yoga but also nurture a deeper respect for India’s natural and historical legacy.