CM inaugurates main events of International Gita Mahotsav in Kurukshetra

Amidst chanting of mantras, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini today inaugurated the main events of the International Gita Mahotsav on the banks of Brahma Sarovar.

Advertisement

The Chief Minister offered prayers and performed a yajna near Purushottampura Bagh. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Zanzibar Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Tabia Maulid Mwita, Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand and former Minister of state Subhash Sudha also participated in the  yajna.

CM Saini said: “The Gita Mahotsav is being celebrated and lakhs of devotees will be attending it in Kurukshetra. The mahotsav has achieved immense success and popularity over the past eight years. Last year, approximately 45 to 50 lakh people participated and a similar turnout is expected this year. Various cultural events, sant sammelan and reciting of Gita shalokas will be organised during the mahotsav. The government has been making sincere efforts to spread the message of the Gita as it was relevant for the entire world. Not only in India but the mahotsav is being celebrated in various countries. Tirthas under the 48-kos land are being developed.”

Earlier, the CM along with other dignitaries inaugurated the pavilion of Tanzania, the partner country for this year’s International Gita Mahotsav-2024, and visited stalls showcasing the country’s food, lifestyle, and attire. Later, they inaugurated and visited the state-level exhibition organised by the Information, Public Relations, Language, and Culture Department. This exhibition displays Haryana Government's achievements over the past 10 years through various departmental stalls.

While the United Republic of Tanzania is the partner country, Odisha is the partner state for the International Gita Mahotsav-2024. Live broadcasts of the IGM are being held at the Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha; Shri Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh; Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple in Mathura; Dwarkadhish Temple in Gujarat; Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain; and Thikana Mandir Shri Govind Dev in Jaipur.

Meanwhile, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya, speaking as the Chief Guest of the inaugural session of 9th International Gita Conference at Kurukshetra University, underscored the importance of nature conservation as the foremost duty of humankind.

Haryana Governor said a moderate consumption of resources and their recycle was a dire need of the hour to protect human life. The Gita is not a book of only one society, but all. It instils self-confidence in people to face all adverse situations.

Governor Khan elucidated that the real meaning of dharma is fulfilling one's duties with utmost sincerity and honesty. Uttarakhand Governor Gurmeet Singh stressed the Gita is the answer to all the problems of human life.

Swadeshi Jagran Manch's  Satish Kumar; Vice Chancellor, Kurukshetra University, Prof Som Nath Sachdeva; Honorary Secretary, Kurukshetra Development Board, Upender Singhal; Registrar, KUK, Prof Sanjeev Sharma; and several officials were present on this occasion.