Gita Jayanti fest: Kurukshetra Board demands ₹15 crore from Khattar govt
The Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government in Haryana is planning to celebrate the International Gita Jayanti Mahotsav in a big way by spending several crores on the fortnight-long religious extravaganza in Kurukshetra.
The preparations for the Mahotsav in Kurukshetra’s Brahm Sarovar, where Lord Krishna is believed to have delivered the sermons of Bhagawat Gita, are on full swing.
President Ram Nath Kovind is likely to inaugurate the Gita Jayanti celebrations on November 25 and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Aditya Nath will also reach the holy city on November 27. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will also attend the celebrations, officials in the district administration.
Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) officials said it has demanded an amount of Rs 15 crore from the state government for the event, but sources said total expenditure will go up to Rs 20 crore. Besides a craft mela and cultural programmes of artistes from several states, the KDB has also made special arrangements for people visiting Kurukshetra from during this period.
Bollywood actress Hema Malini will also present a dance performance during the fest. Famous singers, including Alka Yagnik, Hans Raj Hans and Lakhwinder Wadali, will also enthral visitors.
To promote Gita worldwide, the Kurukshetra district administration is also planning to hold a conclave of ambassadors of various countries. Representatives of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Yog Peeth, Ram Krishna Mission, ISKCON and the Art of Living are likely to participate.
Sources said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Swami Avdeshanand and other religious gurus will also chant ‘shlokas’ (verses) of Gita . Kurukshetra DC Sumedha Kataria said several cultural and religious programmes will be organised during the Mahotsav.