Cholayil Ayurvedic Health and Research Academy organized the Third National Ayurveda Congress, a two day meet on the 21st & 22nd of February, 2004, at the Tagore Centenary Theatre, Thiruvananthapuram.
The central theme of the conference was 'Research methodology in Ayurveda, with special reference to Kayachikitsa.' Some 700 + delegates from across the country attended the event.
An important feature of the conference was a 'paper presentation' competition for young Ayurvedic doctors and research students. The winners received a certificate and a cash prize of Rs.2,000/-, while the second and third prize winners received certificates and cash prizes of Rs.1,500/- and Rs.1,000/-, respectively.
Topics covered during the technical sessions included the methodologies to evaluate medicinal properties of a plant/drug based on Ayurvedic principles; and standardizations and quality control of raw materials, amongst others.
A lecture-demonstration on hi-tech finger printing instruments in modern Ayurvedic research and development was also part of the event.