International Gita Mahotsav celebrations starts from today at Kurukshetra. The whole city is bustling with decorations of the occasion. Hoardings depicting the message of the Gita have been displayed all along the National Highway-1, leading to Kurukshetra and roads leading to the venue. More than 200 officials, apart from police and members of NGOs and other associations, are involved in the preparations to make it a grand success. President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the event.

Al Beruni, a scholar from Iran, depicts his description of the Gita as “one of the greatest texts”.

Kurukshetra Deputy Commissioner Sumedha Kataria said, “This time, due to the golden jubilee year of Haryana, the government decided to make it an international event. The Gita is revered internationally. It is felt that Kurukshetra, the birthplace of the Gita, should get global recognition.”

Surinder Singh Bharti, an advocate, travelled more than 500 km by bus carrying with him a shloka from the Gita and some soil from his hometown said, “People from all states are here together. It creates a feeling of unity.” Several events are lined up for the next four days. On Wednesday, 18,000 students will recite 18 shlokas, creating a world record. BJP MP and actor Hema Malini will perform, while a Canadian troupe will be enact Krishna Leela. An international seminar on the Gita will be held, which experts from the US, Canada and Vietnam will attend.”

Srimad Bhagawad Gita contains 700 shlokas, out of which 574 are said to have been spoken by Krishna while delivering his sermon to Arjun. The government has decided to call 574 people from the various states. The soil from all the states will be mixed to create an idol of Krishna.

By Premji