On 19th December 2024, AuroBharati, Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry, hosted an International Conference on "Rishi Agastya, Sri Aurobindo, and the Vedic Tradition of Puducherry" to mark the 8th Siddha Day. Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush, the event centred on the theme, "Siddha for Public Health", highlighting the spiritual, cultural, and medicinal contributions of Siddha medicine and Vedic traditions.

The conference witnessed eminent speakers, including Shri Pradeep Narang, Chairman, Sri Aurobindo Society, and Smt. K. Swarnambika, IPS, Deputy Secretary, Auroville Foundation. Keynote speakers like Prof. K. Tharanikkarasu, Vice-Chancellor (i/c), Pondicherry University, and Shri Alok Pandey, Sadhak, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, shared insights on Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy and the contributions of Rishi Agastya. Distinguished guests included Dr. Ajit Sabnis, Member Executive, SAS, and Prof. Dr. N. J. Muthukumar, Director General, CCRS, Ministry of Ayush.

The sessions delved into the historical significance of Vedapuri (modern-day Puducherry) as a hub for Vedic scholarship, the role of Rishi Agastya in Tamil literature and Siddha medicine, and Sri Aurobindo’s transformative philosophy. Dr. Kishor Kumar Tripathy, Member Secretary, AuroBharati, presented ongoing research on “Vedapuri: Rishi Agastya, Sri Aurobindo, and the Vedic Tradition of Puducherry,” emphasizing the need for preserving this cultural and spiritual heritage.

The event concluded with a valedictory session featuring Shri V Kaliaperumal, Director, Department of Art and Culture, Puducherry, and contributions from scholars like Prof. Vedvyas Dvivedi, Dr. Nagesh Bhandari, and Prof. Charlotte Schmid. The conference underscored the importance of reviving the Vedic tradition through education, research, and community collaboration, aligning traditional wisdom with contemporary needs.