Gita Mahotsav

Gita Jayanti is the birthday of Bhagvad Gita, the sacred text of the Hindus. It is celebrated on the Shukla Ekadashi, 11th day of the waxing moon of Margashirsha month of the Hindu calendar. It is believed the “Bhagavad Gita” was revealed to Arjuna by Krishna Himself in the battlefield of Kurukshetra (in present-day Haryana, India). The text is written in third person, narrated by Sanjaya to King Dhritarashtra as it transpired between Sri Krishna and Arjuna. Sanjaya, the secretary of the blind King Dhritarashtra, had been blessed by his Guru, Vyasadev, with the power to remotely view the events taking place on the battlefield as they transpired.

The International Gita Mahotsav is celebrated mainly in Kurukshetra, Haryana. The venue of the festival adds to the sacredness of the event. Kurukshetra is the land where celestial song ‘Bhagwad Gita’ is believed to have been delivered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna. The place also holds significance as the famous sage Manu wrote Manusmriti here. The Rig Veda and the Sama Veda were also composed here. Apart from Lord Krishna, the land was visited by divine personalities like Gautama Buddha and eminent Sikh Gurus.

Srimad Bhagwad Gita has since its inception, been the philosophical guide and spiritual teacher for Hindus. In Gita, Lord Krishna has taught numerous lessons to Arjuna, which are considered to be ideal means of living one’s life. The holy scripture of Hindu mythology provides all the solutions for any problem of life.

During the Gita Jayanti Samaroh devotees and pilgrims from all over India gather at Kurukshetra. A ritual observed to be followed by everyone is to take bath in holy water of the sacred tanks – Sannihit Sarovar and Brahma Sarovar. The whole environment becomes divine and spiritual with numerous activities being organised.

The two weeklong festival is celebrated with major attractions like shloka recital, dance performances, Bhagwad Katha reading, Bhajans, Dramas, Book Exhibitions and free Medical check-up camps. The Samaroh is organised by Kurukshetra Development Board, Haryana Tourism, District Administration, Art and Cultural Affairs Department Haryana.