Gita Mahotsav to be grander than ever before: Khattar
New Delhi: Providing a roadmap for preparation of the International Gita Mahotsav this year, Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar on Friday said that the event will be "grander than the previous years" and the objective will be to "spread the teachings of Bhagwad Gita globally."
He said that the International Gita Mahotsav 2018 – to be organised from December 7 to 23 – will have Mauritius as a partner country and Gujarat as a partner state.
Started in 1989 in the name Gita Jayanti, the event soon began being celebrated at the national level. Since 2016, Giat Mahotsav has also been organised at the international level.
Khattar said the main programme would be organised from December 13 to 18, with BJP national president Amit Shah presiding as chief guest for the inaugural programme on December 13.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and former President Pranab Mukherjee are expected to attend the programme on December 18.
The Haryana CM said that besides the Art and Culture Minister of Mauritius, the event will also be attended by diplomats of 15 other countries.
Underlining the significance of Gita in the mental and spiritual development of the human being, Khattar said that Lord Krishna had delivered the celestial message of Gita on the holy land of Kurukshetra 5,156 years ago.
Further, the Haryana government has also decided that for the first time, a 'Gita Sansad' will be organised where more than 30 colleges of the state will discuss the sacred scripture so as to effectively disseminate the message of Gita among students.
Moreover, to spread the message of global peace and harmony, Ashtadashi Shaloki Gita would be recited by 18,000 students simultaneously in Kurukshetra at 12 noon on December 18.
The CM added that an International Crafts and Saras Mela would be inaugurated on December 7, where artistes and artisans of national and international repute will add colour to the event.
Online competitions will also be organised wherein Gita followers across the country and abroad can participate.
A 'Paint the Wall' completion will also be held in which about 200 prominent painters would paint the walls of Kurukshetra, with Mahabharata as the motif.
A Haryana Pavilion would also be set up showcase the culture of the state. Moreover, cultural programmes by national and international artists on Kurukshetra, Gita, Lord Krishna and Mahabharata, as well a Gita Book Fair are the other events that would attract the people visiting the Mahotsav.
