Bhagavad Gita Shloks

Mantras

Shankhnaad

KURUKSHETRA: The International Gita Mahotsav (IGM) 2018 has been inaugurated at the Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra with the recitations of theand otherand(sound of conch).The President of Mauritius Parmasivum Pillay Vyapoory, the Governor of Haryana Satyadeo Narayan Arya, chief minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar , Education and Tourism minister Ram Bilas Sharma and Gujarat education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma were the ones among the Very Important Persons (VIPs) who participated in the inaugural ceremony of the festival. The IGM will be celebrated in Kurukshetra from December 13 to 18.Mauritius President Vyapoory said, “For the peace in the world the knowledge of Gita is must and keeping the importance of this granth in view, Mauritius is also going to organise a Gita Mahotsav in February 2019. Our ancestors also belonged to this land and later then shifted to Mauritius and established a happy nation. We will also make efforts to spread the words of Gita.”CM Khattar said, “The knowledge of the sacred 'granth' Gita will be re-enlightened to the whole world. With this light of knowledge, the world will get a new direction. The International Gita Festival is being organized by the state government on this holy place Kurukshetra where Granth Gita originated to spread the light of knowledge. Our government has made efforts and an exhibition called Jiyo Gita Exhibition containing 650 books of Gita in 40 languages has been set up here to help the tourists and pilgrims.”On the other side, the visit of Bharatiya Janata Party National President Amit Shah was canceled without any notice, as he was also scheduled to visit for the inaugural ceremony but did not come. As per sources, the reason for Shah’s visit cancellation is that he shifted plans to attend a tribute ceremony to the martyrs of 2001 Parliament terrorist attack and a core committee meeting in Delhi.The VIPs also attended the other ceremonial and traditions functions scheduled by the organisers and they also observed the model of the Saraswati River and the Vice President Prashant Bhardwaj of the Saraswati Heritage Development Board briefly explained about the developments of Saraswat River and also mentioned the efforts made so far to the VIPs.Some of the media persons raised the question on the torn national flag being hoisted during the IGM today.Amit Agarwal, nodal officer for the IGM, informed that “All the guests except the BJP chief had come for the inaugural ceremony and the reason for the cancellation of Amit Shah’s visit is not known. The event is going on smoothly." When asked about the torn National Flag being hoisted at the event, Agarwal replied, it is a matter related to the local administration and only deputy commissioner (DC) can talk on this.When contacted about the issue of the national flag, DC SS Phulia said, “The flag installed was a fresh one, due to strong winds and rain on Wednesday night, it was torn slightly. It will be changed soon and the entire inaugural function went on perfectly.”The administration and the Kurukshetra Development Board have made firm arrangements for the security and safety of the gathering at the festival.A third international seminar on ‘Making New India: Insights from Bhagavad Gita’ was also organised in the Sri Mad Bhagavad Gita Sadan Auditorium of Kurukshetra University, which was inaugurated by the Governor of Haryana. President of Mauritius, Haryana CM, and Gujarat Education minister also participated in this seminar. The university officials also informed that the Governor has given the permission for the development of Gita Study Research Center in Kurukshetra University.