Gita Mahotsav or Gita Jayanti is an event centred around the ''
Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita (; sa, श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता, lit=The Song by God, translit=śrīmadbhagavadgītā;), often referred to as the Gita (), is a 700- verse Hindu scripture that is part of the epic ''Mahabharata'' (c ...
'', celebrated on the
Shukla
Shukla ( sa, शुक्ल) is a word of Sanskrit origin that means "bright" or "white". Similar to what goes for Shukla Paksha (शुक्लपक्ष) bright moonlight during waxing phase. Today it is a surname used by Brahmins in North In ...
Ekadashi
Ekadashi () is the eleventh lunar day (''tithi'') of each of the two lunar phases which occur in an Vedic calendar month - the '' Shukla Pakṣa'' (the period of the brightening moon also known as the waxing phase) and the ''Kṛṣṇa Pakṣa ...
, the 11th day of the
waxing moon
Concerning the lunar month of ~29.53 days as viewed from Earth, the lunar phase or Moon phase is the shape of the Moon's directly sunlit portion, which can be expressed quantitatively using areas or angles, or described qualitatively using the t ...
of the
Margashirsha
Agrahāyaṇa or Mārgaśīrṣa, ( Hindi:
अगहन - agahana; मार्गशीर्ष - Mārgaśirṣa) is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, ''Agrahāyaṇa'' is the ninth month of the year, beginnin ...
(''Agrahayan'') month of the
Hindu calendar
The Hindu calendar, Panchanga () or Panjika is one of various lunisolar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes. They adopt a s ...
. It is believed the ''Bhagavad Gita'' was revealed to ''
Arjuna
Arjuna (Sanskrit: अर्जुन, ), also known as Partha and Dhananjaya, is a character in several ancient Hindu texts, and specifically one of the major characters of the Indian epic Mahabharata. In the epic, he is the third among Panda ...
'' by ''
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
'' in the
battlefield of ''Kurukshetra''. The text is written in the third person, narrated by ''
Sanjaya
Sanjaya or Sanjay (Sanskrit: सञ्जय, meaning "victory") or Sanjaya Gavalgana is an advisor from the ancient Indian Hindu war epic ''Mahābhārata''.
In ''Mahabharata''—An ancient story of a war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas ...
'' to King ''
Dhritarashtra
Dhritarashtra ( sa, धृतराष्ट्र, ISO-15919: Dhr̥tarāṣṭra) was a Kuru king, and the father of the Kauravas in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He was the King of the Kuru Kingdom, with its capital at Hastinapura. He was ...
'' as it transpired between ''Krishna'' and ''Arjuna''. ''Sanjaya'', the scribe of the blind King ''Dhritarashtra'', was blessed by his guru, ''
Ved Vyasa
Krishna Dvaipayana ( sa, कृष्णद्वैपायन, Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana), better known as Vyasa (; sa, व्यासः, Vyāsaḥ, compiler) or Vedavyasa (वेदव्यासः, ''Veda-vyāsaḥ'', "the one who cl ...
'', with the power to remotely view the events taking place on the battlefield as they transpired.
Gita story
![The Delivery of the Bhagavad Gita](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/The_Delivery_of_the_Bhagavad_Gita.jpg)
In the epic
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
, the story of the Bhagavad Gita takes place just before the start of the
Kurukshetra War
The Kurukshetra War ( sa, कुरुक्षेत्र युद्ध ), also called the Mahabharata War, is a war described in the ''Mahabharata ( sa, महाभारत )''. The conflict arose from a dynastic succession struggle be ...
. After several attempts at reconciliation failed, war was inevitable. Out of pure compassion and sincere love for his devotee and best friend, Arjuna, Lord Krishna decided to become his charioteer during the battle. The day of the war finally came, and the armies faced off on the field of war. Just as the battle was about to start, Arjuna asked Lord Krishna to drive the chariot to the middle of the battlefield, between the armies, to look more closely at the opposing forces. Seeing his grandfather,
Bhishma
Bhishma (Sanskrit: भीष्म, , ), also known as Pitamaha, Gangaputra, and Devavrata, played an integral role in Mahabharata. He was the supreme commander of the Kaurava forces during the Kurukshetra War mentioned in the Hindu epic M ...
, who raised him with great affection since childhood, and his teacher, ''
Dronācārya'', who had trained him to become the greatest archer, Arjuna's heart began to melt. His body started to tremble and his mind got confused. He became unable to perform his duty as a Kshatriya (warrior). He felt weak and sickened at the thought that he would have to kill his relatives, his friends and revered persons in this confrontation. Despondent, he told Krishna of his sudden change of heart and turned to him for advice. The conversation that ensued, Lord Krishna's advice, messages and teachings to Arjuna, is what is known now as the Bhagavad Gita, the ancient scripture and philosophical work. The Gita is said to be a concise summary of the four Vedas of Hinduism. Kaal (Kshar Brahm) described the knowledge of Gita in 700 verses of 18 chapters after entering in Shri Krishna's body. Gita Mahotsav is also known as Geeta Jayanti, Geeta Utsav, Mokshada Ekadashi, Matsya Dwadashi.
Gita Aarti
![(1)_Aarti_Thali,_Prayer_Plate_India](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/%281%29_Aarti_Thali%2C_Prayer_Plate_India.jpg)
The Bhagavad Gita
Aarti
''Arti'' (Sanskrit: Ārātrika, Hindi: Ārtī) is a Hindu ritual employed in worship, often part of '' puja'', in which light (usually from a flame) is offered to one or more deities. ''Arti(s)'' also refers to the songs sung in praise of the d ...
( hi, भगवद गीता आरती) or Gita Aarti] is a prayer found in the
Bhagavad Gita, Sreemad Bhagavad Gita shastra
''Shastra'' (, IAST: , ) is a Sanskrit word that means "precept, rules, manual, compendium, book or treatise" in a general sense.Monier Williams, Monier Williams' Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Article on 'zAstra'' The wo ...
.
The aarti can be spoken, or sung with musical instruments to give more effect to worship. Aartis are usually performed at the end of the
puja ritual. It is said that if there was any flaw in the puja, it may be fulfilled by the aarti.
Lyrics
Eligibility
"According to
Lord Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one of ...
, those who are "
adharmi" (not righteous) are considered as not eligible to know about Bhagavad Gita." Shastra, which may include associated texts and aarti, Lord Krishna while delivering the Bhagavad-Gita on the battlefield of
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra (, ) is a city and administrative headquarter of Kurukshetra district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is also known as Dharmakshetra ("Realm of duty ") and as the "Land of the Bhagavad Gita".
Legends
According to the Pura ...
, just prior to the commencement of the Mahabharata war, has also confirmed the same in the 18 Chapter (verse-18-67).
You should never disclose this science to one devoid of austerities, nor to one who is not devoted, nor to one adverse (sic) to spiritual advancement and never anyone who is envious of me.
—Bhagavad Geeta
Celebration
![International Gita Mahotsav, All Travel Story, kurukshetra](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/International_Gita_Mahotsav%2C_All_Travel_Story%2C_kurukshetra.jpg)
During the International Gita Mahotsav, more than 300 national and international stalls are set up around the
Brahma Sarovar
Brahma Sarovar is an ancient water pool sacred to Hinduism in old Kurukshetra city, in the state of Haryana in North India,India. Hinduism lays emphasis on taking bath for internal and external purity. Most religious sites have water poo ...
in
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra (, ) is a city and administrative headquarter of Kurukshetra district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is also known as Dharmakshetra ("Realm of duty ") and as the "Land of the Bhagavad Gita".
Legends
According to the Pura ...
city.
[The Kurukshetra trail!]
Asian Age, 10 Dec 2019. Pilgrims also undertake the
48 Kos Parikrama of Kurukshetra
The 48 kos parikrama is a parikrama (a circumbabulatory pilgrimage) of various ''Mahabharata''-related and other Vedic-era tirthas (Hindu sacred sites) around the holy city of Kurukshetra in the state of Haryana, India.
Associated with Kri ...
.
2016
In 2016, the
Government of Haryana
The Government of Haryana, also known as the State Government of Haryana, or locally as the State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Haryana and its 22 districts. It consists of an executive, ceremonially led ...
organized the International Gita Mahotsav from 6 to 10 December.
Pranab Mukherjee
Dr. Pranab Mukherjee (11 December 193531 August 2020) was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the 13th president of India from 2012 until 2017. In a political career spanning five decades, Mukherjee was a senior leader in the India ...
,
President of India
The president of India ( IAST: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Droupadi Murmu ...
, was to inaugurate the Mahotsav; later it was done by
Kaptan Singh Solanki
Kaptan Singh Solanki (born 1 July 1939) is an Indian politician of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the 17th Governor of Tripura. From August 2009, he was the member of the Parliament of India representing Madhya Pradesh State in the Rajya Sabha ...
,
Governor of Haryana
This is a list of governors of the Indian state of Haryana, which was carved out from Punjab on 1 November 1966.
Governors of Haryana
See also
* Haryana
* Governors of India
References
External links
Raj Bhavan, Haryana
{{Use dmy dates ...
, and
Manohar Lal Khattar
Manohar Lal Khattar (born 05 May 1954) is an Indian politician serving as the 10th and current chief minister of Haryana. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a former RSS pracharak. He represents Karnal constituency in Haryana ...
,
Chief Minister
A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union terri ...
.
2017
In 2017, the Gita Mahotsav was held on 25 November to 3 December, inaugurated by
Ram Nath Kovind
Ram Nath Kovind (; born 1 October 1945) is an Indian politician who served as the 14th President of India from 2017 to 2022. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is the second person after K. R. Narayanan, from the Dalit community ...
,
President of India
The president of India ( IAST: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Droupadi Murmu ...
.
2019
The International Gita Mahotsav 2019 was inaugurated by Haryana Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora on 23 November 2019 on the bank of the ''
Brahma Sarovar
Brahma Sarovar is an ancient water pool sacred to Hinduism in old Kurukshetra city, in the state of Haryana in North India,India. Hinduism lays emphasis on taking bath for internal and external purity. Most religious sites have water poo ...
'' water pool in
Thanesar
Thanesar city or old Kurukshetra city is a historic town and an important Hindu pilgrimage sites, Hindu pilgrimage centre in Kurukshetra district of the States and territories of India, state of Haryana in North India, northern India. It is loca ...
, Haryana..
2020
The Government of Haryana celebrated the International Gita Mahotsav from 17 December to 25 December 2020.
2021
Gita Jayanti 2021: Today on 14 December 2021, Gita Mahotsav was celebrated with great pomp. This celebration was being held in Kurukshetra from 2 December to 19 December 2021.
International Gita Mahotsav is organized by Kurukshetra Development Board, Haryana Tourism, District Administration, North Zone Cultural Centre Patiala and Information and Public Relations Department Haryana.
Tradition
Reading
Gita
The Bhagavad Gita (; sa, श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता, lit=The Song by God, translit=śrīmadbhagavadgītā;), often referred to as the Gita (), is a 700- verse Hindu scripture that is part of the epic ''Mahabharata'' ( ...
usually starts with
Gita Dhyanam and the Gita Aarti sometime either found at the beginning or end of all the Gita chapters.
See also
*
Hindu pilgrimage sites in India
In Hinduism, the yatra (pilgrimage) to the tirthas (sacred places) has special significance for earning the punya (spiritual merit) needed to attain the moksha (salvation) by performing the darśana (viewing of deity), the parikrama (circumam ...
**
48 Kos Parikrama of Kurukshetra
The 48 kos parikrama is a parikrama (a circumbabulatory pilgrimage) of various ''Mahabharata''-related and other Vedic-era tirthas (Hindu sacred sites) around the holy city of Kurukshetra in the state of Haryana, India.
Associated with Kri ...
**
Braj Parikrama
*
Culture of Haryana
**
Ballabhgarh Kartik Cultural Festival
**
Haryana State Farmer's and Agri-tourism Fair
**
Pinjore Baishakhi and Mango fairs
**
Surajkund International Crafts Mela
References
External links
Gita Jayanti Singapore's official website, under the auspices of the Hindu Endowments Board
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahabharata
Mahabharata
Bhagavad Gita
Hindu festivals
Religious festivals in India
December observances