Khattar visits Kurukshetra, says Gita's teachings for entire humankind

Addressing a gathering on the occasion of Virat Sant Sammelan as part of the International Gita Mahotsav here on Saturday, Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the teachings of the Gita were not just for Indians, but the entire humankind.

“The Gita is the source of peace provided on a battlefield, making it a unique text. Its teachings are as relevant now as they were during the Mahabharata war. Just like the Sikh community reveres Guru Granth Sahib as the Guru, as RSS swayamsewaks and pracharakas, we were taught that the saffron flag is our guru,” he said, adding that the International Gita Mahotsav celebrations would be expanded in the coming years.

“Knowledge of the Gita is essential for a stable mind and decision-making. If we follow our dharma, everything will automatically fall into place,” said Khattar.

During his tenure as the CM in Haryana, it was decided to celebrate Gita Jayanti as an international-level festival. “Though we have been organising the event on a big scale, there is a long way to go, as people are still indulging in corruption and misconduct. More efforts are required to propagate the teachings of the Gita, for which social and religious organisations need to play an active role,” he said.

Responding to media queries regarding religious conversion in Punjab, Khattar said, “Conversion is a matter of concern for all. Such activities do not bode well for society. I will appeal to the Punjab Chief Minister to take some measures to check such activities."

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, who also attended the event, said the teachings of the Gita comprised the eternal wisdom of humanity and provided solutions and inspiration in life. "The teachings continue to guide humanity in the right direction," he said.

Dhami said the Uttarakhand Government was working to preserve the culture and traditional heritage of the Devbhoomi. Reciting a verse from the Gita had been made compulsory in schools every day, and all religious heritage sites were being protected, preserved and renovated, he said, adding that action was being taken against those defaming the Devbhoomi and Sanatan Dharma.

He also said there was a need to stay united and ensure that the new generations remained connected with cultural values.

Madhya Pradesh's Culture and Tourism Minister Dharmendra Singh Lodhi and Gita scholar Swami Gyananand, among others, addressed the gathering.