Fair visitors at a herbal medicine stall. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Nov. 17: For the health enthusiasts of the state capital, the ongoing industrial fair has staged a glimpse of opportunities. The health stalls are drawing more visitors than other industries present in the state.

The health related stalls displayed here include the herbal medicines, yoga and meditation. While the yoga and meditation have been gaining popularity in the state since the few years, the wave in favour of the herbal medicines is a recent affair.

The traditional herbal remedies for diabetes, indigestion, sleep disorders and cosmetic therapies displayed at the stalls have enthused even the chronic patients.

The office-goers, housewives and youths were seen thronging the stalls of Ranchi Yoga Culture, Yog Vedanta Seva Samiti and the Sahaja Yoga at the Military Grounds during the third day of the fair today.

At the stall of Ranchi Yoga Culture, one could see big cut-outs displaying different forms of yoga asanas while the stall owner of the Sahaja Yoga were seen creating spiritual ambience with floral decor.

Seema Agarwal, the stall in-charge of the Sahaja Yoga said that their unique way of meditation was gaining popularity not only in India, but also in 180 countries across the globe.

Sahaja Yoga is a form of meditation which raises internal power and also develops self-confidence among its followers.

“We are showing ten minutes video clippings and involving the visitors in meditation. The visitors have appreciated our method so much that they are visiting our stall repeatedly,” said another member, Shyam Singh.

Meanwhile, at the yoga stall, the office-goers and youths were seen participating in the training sessions. “Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has made us believe that yoga is the best remedy to cure different types of diseases be it AIDS or cancer. As a result maximum people are joining different yoga centres to remain fit and healthy,” quipped a college student, Riti Mehta.

Riti along with her friends was looking forward to join the yoga classes in their spare time. “We had heard that there is a centre in our city which teaches different types of yoga asanas, but now we have made up our mind to join one after visiting the yoga stall,” added Riti.

Ravi Shankar, the stall owner of the Yog Vedanta Seva Samiti said that the visitors are mainly looking for Ojasvi tea, an herbal drink which is used to cure weakness, improves memory power and also digestion.

Shankar was surprised by seeing such a large turnout at the fair. “It seems people have started developing faith in ayurvedic medicines by and large, which was not very conspicuous a year back,” he said.

One of the visitors at the stall of Yog Vedanta Seva Samiti, Mahesh Kumar, a government employee, said he had purchased two packets of herbal tea yesterday. “My wife who was suffering from indigestion, after consuming the tea felt a little better. I decided to stock more such herbal tea for future. Besides, my faith in ayurvedic medicine has also developed after consuming herbal tea,” Kumar said.

Moreover, the diabetic patients were also seen taking the ayurvedic diabetic tablets. “More and more people should opt for ayurvedic medicines which is our age old method to cure various kinds of diseases. In fact these types of stalls bring awareness among the general masses too,” pointed out another visitor, Rita Kapoor.