Gita Jayanti Samaroh is referred to as Gita Mahotsav. It is one of the Hindu festivals that is celebrated for the birth of the “Srimad Bhagavad Gita”, the holy scripture given to Arjuna by Lord Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. This festival is religiously significant and is commemorated with great fervor, especially in Kurukshetra, Haryana.
Kurukshetra has a place that stands as different from any other in the pages of Hindu history. For here it was that Lord Krishna guided Arjuna with his immortal Bhagavad Gita during his war dilemma. It also contains history; here the famous Manusmriti was written by Manu, and here are composed the Rig and Sama Vedas. The sacred land has been visited by figures such as Gautama Buddha and various Sikh Gurus, which has increased the land’s spiritual importance.
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The Gita Mahotsav is celebrated annually on the 11th day of the Shukla Paksha in the Margashirsha month (November-December) according to the Hindu lunar calendar. In 2024, the festival began on November 28 and continue until December 15, in Kurukshetra. Weeklong religious and cultural activities characterize the festival, that would attract millions of devotees and pilgrims to this sacred spot.
The Gita Jayanti celebrations also include an important ceremonial bath in holy waters of Brahma Sarovar and Sannihit Sarovar. Kurukshetra gets immersed in a deep sense of spirituality with events planned for the entire week. Some of the events are the recitation of shlokas, dance performances, Bhagavad Katha, bhajans, dramas, and book exhibitions. There are also medical camps put up for the locals.
In 2016, the Haryana Government declared the Gita Mahotsav an International event, witnessing over two million visitors. As a result of this event, Gita Jayanti has been declared to be an annual observance by the region. The Kurukshetra Development Board, Haryana Tourism, and other cultural organizations have been entrusted with the responsibility of organizing this event, which aims at propagating the Bhagavad Gita teachings all over the world.
Gita Mahotsav is not just a birthday celebrations of a scripture rather an assembly to commemorate eternal wisdom dispensed by Lord Krishna, guiding the spiritual life of millions of devotees across the world.
