Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said the State Government is developing Kurukshetra as a magnificent and divine city with an aim to make it the cultural capital of the State and ensure that the name of Kurukshetra figures among the prominent religious places of the country.
Speaking in the fourth International Seminar on Universal Welfare and the Eternal Philosophy of Bhagavad Gita organized as part of International Gita Mahotsav at the Shrimad Bhagwad Gita Sadan, Kurukshetra University, he urged the people to adopt Gita in their lives as it would not only show them right path but also provide strength to fight the challenges of life.
The Chief Minister said the message of Bhagwad Gita is immortal and eternal and it should reach to 600 crores of people in the world. This he said could only be possible when the place where the sacred book has been originated be developed as a divine city. Lord Krishna had delivered the eternal message of Bhagwad Gita to Arjuna on the holy land of Kurukshetra 5156 years ago; he said adding that besides Kurukshetra, it has also been decided to develop religious sites falling within the radius of 48 kilometers of the holy city as the people have lot of faith in these ancient sites. He said that the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) has been entrusted the responsibility of development of these places.
Khattar said that this is the fourth International Seminar in a row. In the year 2014, it was organised in the name of Kurukshetra Utsav. But after he assumed the charge of administration of the State, the name of Gita had been added to the Kurukshetra Utsav. Thereafter, it has been decided to involve the participation of other countries also in this grand festival and since 2016, International Gita Mahotsav is being organized in the State. While furthering the scope of this festival, the State Government has also decided to celebrated it at district headquarter also from 2017, he added.
He said that earlier, the dozens of countries used to send their representatives to participate in the Gita Mahotsav but it is matter of pride that after the call made by him during the festival last year, countries are coming forward and decided to celebrate Gita Mahotsav in their countries. Mauritius is the first such country to organize festival in February, 2019 followed by UK in the month of August. Adding to this list, now International Gita Mahotsav would be celebrated in Australia in March 2020 and Canada in July 2020. He also expressed special thanks to neighboring country Nepal who have also offered to celebrate Gita Mahotsav in their country. He said that this year Uttrakhand is the partner state and Nepal is the partner country for the International Gita Mahotsav.
HARYANA RECEIVES RS 95 CRORE FROM GOI UNDER KRISHNA CIRCUIT-II
Khattar said several steps are being taken for the development of Kurukshetra as a tourist destination of international level, adding that an amount of about Rs 95 crore received from the Government of India under Krishna Circuit-II is being spent on the development of sites of religious significance including Brahma Sarovar and Jyotisar. Stating that the State Government would provide all necessary facilities to the people visiting Kurukshetra, he said that besides making arrangements for boarding and lodging by various social organizations, a 5-star hotel is also being constructed by the Tourism Department.
AIRPORT BETWEEN KARNAL-KURUKSHETRA
The Chief Minister said that an Airport between Karnal and Kurukshetra would also be developed which would further increase the attraction of visitors towards the holy city. He said that Tirupati Balaji Temple and Iskon Temple has been constructed in Kurukshetra. Keeping in view that 8 out of the 10 Sikh Gurus have visited Kurukshetra, it has been decided to set up a Sikh Museum of International level here for which suitable land has also been identified. Also, Bharat Mata Temple would also be constructed in Kurukshetra on five acres of land, he added. Describing Saraswati River as the ancient river, he said that projects worth crores of Rupees are being implemented for the development of Adi badri, the origin point of the river. To provide an appropriate place to scholars for carrying out research work on Gita, a building of Gio Gita Sansthan is also being constructed, he further added.