Gita Jayanti Festivities in Kurukshetra

The dusty plains of Kurukshetra in Haryana are of little interest to most travellers who pass through either on their way to Himachal Pradesh or Punjab. Yet, ironically, this is where the most important text of Hindu devotion was conceived, the Bhagavad Gita. The day that marks the birth of this sacred book is celebrated as Gita Jayanti. Devotees descend on this town in droves to relive the essence of the religious wisdom as put down in the tome. It is celebrated on the 11th day of the waxing moon of Margashirsha as per the Vedic calendar. In the Western calendar, it falls in the cooler months of November or December. Even for the non-religious, it’s a significant enough event to attend.

 

Contemporary Celebrations

Though this day has always been celebrated with fervour, recently the Haryana state government’s tourism wing has included it in the official calendar. Christened as ‘Kurukshetra Festival’ of Haryana, efforts are taken to include diverse representations from modern society, and modify the tone of events to what a younger generation can identify with. Programmes are lined up for the entire week that Gita Jayanti coincides with.

Past editions of the Kurukshetra Festival have been lively affairs with high-profile attendees. Danseuse Shovana Narayanan and others of her stature have performed here. Stalls for local women and disenfranchised communities sell ware not easily found in cities. Art camps, rangoli making competitions, theatre on spiritual themes, discourses on the relevance of the Gita’s teachings in modern life and tours of villages of the area are organised here. Even Sufi poetry recitals, and inspired performances are embraced here.

Religious Traditions

Gita Jayanti commemorates the creation of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. This was the site of the epic battle of Mahabharata. Legend has it that Lord Krishna and Arjuna had an exchange on life’s truths on the battleground – the basis of the religious book. King Dhritarashtra was given an account of what transpired between his son Arjuna and Lord Krishna by his secretary, Sanjaya. The text is thus written as the account of a third person. Codes and truths as gleamed from the conversation form the core values of Hinduism.

 

Other spiritual leaders are also associated with Kurukshetra. Sage Manu had penned the ‘Manusmriti’ here. It is believed that the Rig Veda and Sama Veda too had been compiled in this town. Lord Buddha and several Sikh gurus were known to have visited.

Devotees have a set of rituals they practice during Gita Jayanti. Pilgrims congregate for a holy dip in the Brahma Sarovar and Sannihit Sarovar. For an entire week, stories from the Bhagavad Gita are read, shlokas recited and bhajans sung. Charity is an important part of the festivities. Hindu scholars engage in stimulating discourses every day and book exhibitions and free medical camps are also organized for the local community at large.

If you’re planning on attending the Kurukshetra Festival this year, getting here is a breeze. Several trains pass through en-route for New Delhi to Haryana, Punjab and UP. Haryana roadways run frequent bus services from Delhi, which happens to be the nearest city with a major airport.