Apart from free diagnosis services, consultation and distribution of medicines, the ambitious event will also have a live demonstration of yoga and lectures on the treatment of diseases.

This is the second consecutive year the Arogya Mela is being organised in the state, the last being held at Amritsar. “The event is aimed at generating awareness on the alternative methods of treatments available under the Indian systems of medicines that are not only economical but also time-tested,” said Dr Rakesh Sharma, Director, AYUSH (Ayurvedic, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) in the state.

“About four lakh people had visited the Arogya Mela last year. We are expecting a higher number of visitors in Ludhiana,” said Dr Sharma.

Senior Assistant Director of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Praveen Kumar Mittal said there the state had the potential to exploit the benefits of traditional medicine systems that have been hitherto unexplored.

“The world is keen to adopt the Indian traditional systems like Ayurveda and yoga. The land where Ayurveda originated thus cannot afford to lag behind. Numerous celebrities have shown interest in benefiting from them. It is therefore necessary that we spearhead the campaign at the national and international levels. With the Indian government showing keen interest towards their promotion, we have already organised such events in eight cities across the country, including Delhi, where it happens every year,” Mittal said.

The event provides an opportunity to manufactures of Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic medicines to showcase their products. Around 70 stalls have been set up by manufacturers from the state and from others regions. Visitors can also avail the free diagnosis and treatment facilities at the Ayurvedic, Unani and homoeopathic clinics that have been put up at the venue. The state principal secretary of health is expected to preside over the inaugural ceremony.