The first ever International Gita festival will be celebrated by Haryana Government at Kurushetra, the place associated with the epic Mahabharata, from December 6 to December 10. The highlight of the ‘Mahotsav’, to be Inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee, would be a four-day international seminar on ‘Bhagvat Gita’ which would be attended by scholars, saints, artists and craftsmen from India and abroad.
On the inauguration day, the President would also lay the foundation stone of Krishna tourism circuit. Also, the same day the urban and rural areas of district of Kurushetra would be declared Open Defecation Free.
Announcing this here a press conference on Saturday, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar said the mega event will mark the birth anniversary of ‘BhagwatGita’ at the sacred place where lord Kishna delivered the celestial message to a wavering Arjun. It was delivered on the 11th day of the bright moon fortnight (Shukla Ekadasi) in the month of Margshirsh (November-December) he said.
The Chief Minister said out of the 700 Shlokas of Gita, 574 have been recited by the lord himself and therefore, one youth from each of the 574 district in the country have been chosen to represent each shloka. These youths would propagate the Shlokas written in Sanskrit, Hindi, English and their regional languages. An idol of lrord Krishna would be prepared with the soil brought from different districts by 574 youths. It will symbolise national unity, Khattar said. BJP lok Sabha MP and former actress Hema Malini would perform during the Gita festival.