As many as 18,000 students recited 18 shalokas of 18 chapters of the Bhagvad Gita together during the concluding day of International Gita Mahotsav 2018 at Kurukshetra on Tuesday.
Not only this, 108 Brahmins also recited Srimad Bhagvad Gita Paath at Jyotisar.
Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Odisha Governor Prof. Ganeshi Lal, Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev among other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Sushma Swaraj, while speaking as chief guest in the 'Vaishvik Gita Paath Karyakram' organized on Tuesday said that every youth would have to be the messenger of Srimad Bhagvad Gita for the welfare of the world. For this, every youth would have to adopt the message of at least two shalokas of the Gita in their lives every day, she said.
The Union Minister said that Srimad Bhagvad Gita is the biggest philosophical text as this is only text which shows the way of living the life and paves way for solving all problems in the world. Each shaloka in the Gita makes a person cultured, she said.
Swaraj said that as the result of the efforts of the Chief Minister Manohar Lal, Gita Jayanti is being celebrated as International Gita Mahotsav from last three years which has brought Kurukshetra on world map. The International Gita Mahotsav is being celebrated not only in Kurukshetra, but in each district of the state also, she said.
Odisha Governor, Prof. Ganeshi Lal said that Gita is inspirational for youth, senior citizens and soldiers alike. He added that Srimad Bhagvad Gita inspires us to perform action without worrying about results.
Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Maharaj, Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev and Swami Chidanand Muni Maharaj also spoke on this occasion.
The International Gita Mahotsav at Kurukshetra was organized from December 13 to 18. Mauritius was the partner country and Gujarat was the partner state in the Gita Mahotsav – 2018.