Chandigarh, Nov 3 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will participate in the state-level event being organized in Kurukshetra on November 25 to commemorate the 350th Shahidi Diwas of Hind Ki Chadar Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. The Prime Minister will also take part in the International Gita Mahotsav. The 10th edition of the International Gita Mahotsav will be held in Dharmakshetra–Kurukshetra from November 15 to December 5. For the first time, the festival will span 21 days.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the Chief Minister said that the International Gita Mahotsav will present a unique confluence of culture, knowledge, and spirituality. He said that Dharmakshetra–Kurukshetra covers a 48-kos radius and is home to numerous pilgrimage sites. The Kurukshetra Development Board has identified 182 such sites. Highlighting the festival’s growing global appeal, the Chief Minister said the Gita Mahotsav has already been celebrated in Mauritius, London, UK, Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. The number of devotees from India and abroad attending the Mahotsav in Kurukshetra, the birthplace of the Bhagavad Gita, continues to rise each year, prompting extensive preparations annually.
He further informed that Madhya Pradesh will be the partner state for this year’s International Gita Mahotsav. Known for its rich religious and spiritual heritage, Madhya Pradesh’s participation as the partner state has significantly enhanced the festival’s stature. A special cultural pavilion from Madhya Pradesh is being constructed at Purushottam Pura Bagh near Brahma Sarovar, offering visitors an immersive experience of the state’s diverse traditions.
The Chief Minister added that the International Gita Mahotsav will be formally inaugurated on November 24 with a Gita Yagna and worship ceremony at Brahma Sarovar. A three-day International Gita Seminar will also be inaugurated at Kurukshetra University. In addition 25 scholars from 16 countries will be present in the International Seminar with the support of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
He also mentioned that through the Ministry of External Affairs, Gita Mahotsav programs will be organized in 51 countries and broadcast live. Twenty Pandits from Fiji and Trinidad and Tobago will visit Kurukshetra for two days to participate in various festival programs.
The Chief Minister informed that from November 26 to 30, a Katha will be conducted by Padma Vibhushan awardee Rambhadracharya under the aegis of Jeeyo Geeta at Purushottampura Bagh. In addition, a Sant Sammelan will be held at Purushottampura Bagh on November 29, where renowned saints from across the country will convene to discuss the teachings of the Gita and the essence of spirituality. On November 30, the All India Devasthanam Conference will take place in the Senate Hall of Kurukshetra University, bringing together heads of various religious and spiritual institutions from across India.
The Chief Minister also said that the Information and Public Relations Department, Haryana, will operate a YouTube channel during the festival. Devotees will be encouraged to share their experiences and reflections on their favourite verses from the Bhagavad Gita, highlighting how these teachings have influenced their lives. The most viewed video clip will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh during the festival’s closing ceremony.
He said that a grand Gita Maha Aarti will be held on the sacred banks of Brahma Sarovar from November 15 to December 5. Cultural programs will also be organized at various pilgrimage sites across the 48 Kos Kurukshetra region from November 25 to December 1. On December 1, a Gita Yagya, Gita Path and Bhagwat Katha will take place at the Jyotisar Tiratha. On the same day, a global recitation of the Gita will be conducted by 18,000 students at the Theme Park, Kurukshetra, with millions of devotees and Gita enthusiasts from India and abroad joining online.
The Chief Minister further informed that a 48 Kos Tirtha Sammelan will be organized in the auditorium of Kurukshetra University, with representatives from all 182 Tirtha Samitis of the Kurukshetra region participating. On December 1, a grand Deepotsav will be celebrated simultaneously at all 182 pilgrimage sites, accompanied by a Gita Shobha Yatra. As in previous years, a Gita Book Fair will be held at Brahma Sarovar from November 24 to December 1. Alongside this, an exhibition on public welfare schemes, a craft fair, a fun fair, and the traditional Balram Kushti Dangal will also be organized.
Gita Mahotsav events across Haryana Districts from November 28
The Chief Minister said that International Gita Mahotsav celebrations will also be held across all district headquarters of Haryana starting November 28. A Gita Shobha Yatra will be organized in every district on December 1. Also, 1,800 students will participate in a global recitation of the Gita, while village panchayats will celebrate the Deepotsav at their respective pilgrimage sites in the evening.
Kurukshetra emerged as a Global Center of Devotion – Swami Gyananand Maharaj
Gita scholar Swami Gyananand Maharaj said that the International Gita Mahotsav has brought about a remarkable transformation in Kurukshetra, giving the city a unique identity on the global stage. He said that Kurukshetra holds a place of great significance among the sacred pilgrimage sites of India. Owing to the dedicated efforts of the Haryana Government, the Gita Jayanti Mahotsav has now attained international stature, drawing millions of pilgrims and tourists from India and abroad.
Swami Gyananand Maharaj further said that the number of devotees and visitors coming to the holy land of Dharmakshetra—Kurukshetra is increasing throughout the year. The city regularly hosts seminars, spiritual discourses, and Katha sessions, attracting renowned kathavachak eager to share their teachings.
He added that the International Gita Mahotsav has given new global recognition to the timeless message of the Bhagavad Gita. The recent honour accorded to the Gita at an event in Bali stands as a testament to this growing influence. The Governor of bali also proposed that, with the Haryana Government’s consent, an Indian Cultural Centre could be established there to further strengthen cultural spiritual ties.
Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Rajesh Khullar, Commissioner and Secretary of the Information, Public Relations and Languages Department Dr. Amit Kumar Agrawal, Director General of the Department K. Makarand Pandurang, Media Secretary to the Chief Minister Praveen Attrey and several officials from the Kurukshetra Development Board were also present on this occasion.
