Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday, 6 November offered prayers to Lord Dhanvantari at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state headquarters in Bhopal, marking the occasion of Dhanteras and the birth anniversary of the deity of Ayurveda. The Chief Minister used the occasion to highlight the importance of good health and India's traditional medical systems as the five-day Diwali festival got under way.

What CM Yadav Said

Addressing those gathered for the prayers, Yadav emphasised that health, not material wealth, is the truest form of prosperity. 'Dhanteras marks the beginning of the five-day festival of lights. Lord Dhanvantari is worshipped on this day. For us, the greatest wealth is good health, which is why a healthy body is considered the greatest happiness,' he said.

The Chief Minister added that the occasion carries a broader message of adopting a healthy lifestyle and reconnecting with nature and India's time-honoured systems of medicine.

AYUSH and Traditional Medicine

Yadav invoked the Centre's push under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote Ayurveda and homoeopathy alongside conventional allopathic treatment. 'Through the AYUSH Department, our ancient medical practices are receiving recognition and respect. Traditional systems of medicine are being promoted alongside modern healthcare,' he said.

This comes amid a sustained government effort to mainstream AYUSH-based treatments nationally, with the Centre having expanded the AYUSH Ministry's budget and scope in recent years.

Prayers and Wishes

CM Yadav performed the prescribed rituals and prayed for the health, happiness, and prosperity of all residents of Madhya Pradesh. He also extended greetings on the occasion of Goddess Lakshmi's worship, which is traditionally observed alongside Dhanvantari Puja on Dhanteras.

'May Lord Dhanvantari's grace bless all the people of the state with a life filled with good health, happiness, and prosperity. This is my heartfelt wish,' Yadav wrote on X.

Senior BJP Leaders Present

BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal, state organisation general secretary Chandrashekhar, and Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda were among those who attended the prayers at the party headquarters. Khandelwal also extended Dhanteras and Diwali greetings, expressing hope that Madhya Pradesh and the country would reach new heights of development.

Significance of Dhanteras

Dhanteras, the first day of the Diwali cycle, is traditionally associated with the worship of Lord Dhanvantari — revered in Hindu tradition as the divine physician and the founding figure of Ayurveda — and Goddess Lakshmi. The five-day festival concludes with Bhai Dooj, and is one of the most widely observed celebrations across India. As the festival season continues, official events and public gatherings are expected to follow across the state.