Keep health, wealth intact at Wellness 2003: Minister

MUMBAI: We expend half our health on acquiring wealth, and having done so, we spend half our wealth in regaining our health,'' state health minister Digvijay Khanvilkar said here on Friday morning.But if we take care of our body and mind simultaneously, we can keep our health as well as wealth intact.'' He was inaugurating Wellness 2003, a platform for promoting alternative therapies, medicines and healing techniques at the MMRDA ground, Bandra-Kurla Complex. The exposition is an initiative of the Times Foundation. The four-day exposition received an eager response from Mumbaikars on its first day. Mr Khanvilkar said the ancient Indian school of medicine had produced systems such as ayurveda, which treats the mind and body together. The minister also urged big hospitals to do their bit for the poorest of the poor. For instance, he said, hospitals in Mumbai could adopt tracts in Thane district, where tribals live. He promised government support for such a venture. Mr Khanvilkar also congratulated the Times Foundation for taking the initiative in organising the exposition on the holistic Indian way of living. S.K. Bapat, president of the Hinduja Foundation, said the exercise was a perfect example of corporate social responsibility.He said Hinduja Hospital was trying to bring the best of ancient wisdom to the masses. Hinduja Hospital and its sister institutions are supporting the exposition. Spiritual leader Murari Bapu said the pressures of modern life were taking their toll on the body. Advocating simple living, he said those who strove against nature were bound to be weighed down by illness. The stalls at the exposition feature aromatherapy, floral energy gels, neem products, organic foods, Unani medicine, Isha yoga, Kriya yoga,music therapy, reiki, pranic healing, feng shui and cosmetology. Today's highlights l 7.45 a.m. to 9 a.m.— Satsang with Yogiraj Mangeshda l 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Art of Living (Nagmadeepam) l 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.— Seminar on No Tobacco Day by Hinduja Hospital l 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.— Dr Mohan Thomas on cosmetic surgery l 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Joe Rodrigues on stress and stressors l 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. — Functional fitness for senior citizens l 7.15 p.m. to 8 p.m.— Sarod recital by Vivek Joshi l 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Jugalbandi by Anuradha and Kavita Paudwal