International Gita Mahotsav concludes with spiritual fervour at Brahma Sarovar

The 10th edition of the International Gita Mahotsav (IGM-25) concluded at Brahma Sarovar on Monday evening with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini leading the ‘Maha Aarti’ amid the blowing of conches and chanting of hymns. The Chief Minister also offered the traditional ‘Deep-Daan’, marking the formal culmination of the 11-day spiritual and cultural festival.

Saini later offered prayers at Sannihit Sarovar, where a grand Deepotsav was organised. Thousands of earthen lamps were lit on the banks of Sannihit Sarovar by social and religious organisations, while sky lanterns illuminated the night sky over Brahma Sarovar. Tourism Minister Arvind Sharma and several BJP leaders accompanied the Chief Minister.

Although the main events concluded on Monday, the Saras and Crafts fairs, integral to the Mahotsav, will continue until December 5.

Greeting citizens on the occasion of Gita Jayanti, the Chief Minister said, “The scale of the International Gita Mahotsav is being increased gradually and the message of Gita is being spread across the world. The Mahabharata-themed Anubhav Kendra has been opened for the public, and people are reaching in good numbers to visit the Kendra with their family members.”

Focus on 48-kos Kurukshetra

Earlier in the day, addressing the 48-kos Tirtha Sammelan, Saini reiterated the government’s commitment to developing Kurukshetra into a premier global religious tourism destination. He said the Tirtha Samitis had a vital role to play in this endeavour. The Chief Minister also released a book documenting pilgrimage sites within the sacred 48-kos region.

Representatives of various Tirtha Samitis raised concerns related to water sources for the Sarovars, drainage issues, and pending development works. Saini assured them that “all the issues related to the Tirthas will be resolved.”

He added, “Following the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Gita Mahotsav has been celebrated internationally and in Kurukshetra since 2016. A society that preserves its cultural heritage instils strong moral values in its younger generation. Therefore, we are continuously working to preserve the cultural heritage of Haryana, the birthplace of the Vedas, Puranas, and the Gita, and to pass it on to younger generations.”

Saini noted that while 367 pilgrimage sites were once believed to exist in the 48-kos region, 182 have so far been identified and documented. “The government is committed to restore their glory. Currently, development works are being carried out on nearly 80 Tirthas, and the remaining will also be developed in the coming future. The survey for the remaining Tirthas is still on and more pilgrimage sites are expected to be added to this list in the near future,” he said.

He also announced that the government is working to start a pilgrimage circuit covering the 48-kos Kurukshetra region on the lines of the 84-kosi yatra in Braj, with active involvement of Tirtha Samiti representatives.

Earlier in the morning, the Chief Minister visited Jyotisar Tirtha to offer obeisance and participate in a havan performed to mark Gita Jayanti. He later joined the Global Gita Path at Keshav Park, where 21,000 students recited verses from the Bhagavad Gita.