PM Modi to visit Kurukshetra on Nov 25 for Gita Mahotsav, Guru Tegh Bahadur event

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kurukshetra on November 25 to participate in two major events — the International Gita Mahotsav and the state-level commemoration of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

The visit assumes political and symbolic importance as it comes over a month after the Prime Minister’s proposed visit to Sonepat on October 17 was cancelled at the last moment. That event was meant to mark one year of the formation of the Nayab Singh Saini Government but was called off following the suicide of senior IPS officer Y Puran Kumar.

Confirming Modi’s visit, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said Haryana was observing the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur —revered as “Hind Di Chadar” (protector of India) — with great devotion and religious fervour. “The martyrdom celebrations of Guru Teg Bahadur, popularly known as ‘Hind Di Chadar’, on a grand scale is part of the socio-religious outreach of the BJP,” said a senior government functionary, adding that thousands of party workers would participate in the state-level event at Kurukshetra.

The government has lined up a series of programmes under its flagship Sant Mahapurush Samman Evam Vichar Prasar Yojana, culminating in the November 25 mega event.

Saini also announced that Madhya Pradesh would be the partner state for this year’s International Gita Mahotsav. The Mahotsav will be formally inaugurated on November 24 with a Gita Yagna and worship ceremony at Brahma Sarovar.

A three-day International Gita Seminar will also be held at Kurukshetra University, where 25 scholars from 16 countries are expected to participate.

From November 26 to 30, Padma Vibhushan Rambhadracharya will conduct a ‘katha’ under the aegis of Jeeyo Geeta at Purushottampura Bagh. A ‘Sant Sammelan’ will take place there on November 29, bringing together renowned saints from across India to deliberate on the teachings of the Gita and the essence of spirituality.

On November 30, the All India Devasthanam Conference will be held at Kurukshetra University, bringing together heads of various religious and spiritual institutions from across the country.

Adding grandeur to the celebrations, a Gita Maha Aarti will be held on the banks of the sacred Brahma Sarovar from November 15 to December 5. Cultural programmes will be organised at various pilgrimage sites across the 48 Kos Kurukshetra region from November 25 to December 1.

On December 1, Gita Yagya, Gita Path, and Bhagwat Katha will take place at Jyotisar Tiratha, followed by a global recitation of the Gita by 18,000 students at the Theme Park, Kurukshetra. Millions of devotees and Gita enthusiasts from India and abroad are expected to join the event online.

A 48 Kos Tirtha Sammelan will also be organised at Kurukshetra University with representatives from all 182 Tirtha Samitis of the Kurukshetra region. On the same evening, a grand Deepotsav will illuminate all 182 pilgrimage sites, followed by a Gita Shobha Yatra.