Gita Jayanti

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मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु।

मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवमात्मानं मत्परायणः।।

Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 18, Verse 65 )

Fix your mind on God, worship Him, and bow to Him. By uniting yourself with Him and having faith in Him, one can reach Him.

Gita Jayanti (or Gita Mahotsav) is a Hindu festival that celebrates the day on which Bhagwan Krishna imparted timeless wisdom on the fundamentals of living a meaningful life and the importance of always standing by Dharma, the right action, to his friend and disciple Arjuna. This Valuable knowledge called Gita Gyan recorded in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita is one of the most sacred scriptures in Hinduism written by sage Ved Vyasa.

When is Gita Jayanti Celebrated

As per the Hindu calendar, Gita Jayanti is celebrated on Shukla Ekadashi, the 11th day of the Margashirsha month, which usually falls in either November or December.

During the Mahabharata war in Kurukshetra, Arjuna was unsure about battling his cousins, the Kauravas. That's when Bhagwan Krishna stepped in and shared the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita with Arjuna to guide him through his doubts and motivate him to do his duty.

Celebration of Gita Jayanti

On this special day, followers from across India come together at Kurukshetra. It's a tradition for everyone to take a dip in the holy waters of the sacred tanks - Sannihit Sarovar and Brahma Sarovar. People do bhajan, and kirtan and offer prayers to Bhagwan Krishna. The two-week festival is filled with exciting events such as Bhagavad Gita shloka recitals, dance performances, Bhagavad Katha readings, Bhajans, dramas, and book exhibitions. The atmosphere is filled with a sense of divinity and spirituality.

In some places, special events are organised to share the knowledge of the Gita through lectures and discussions. These help people, learn more about its teachings in a fun and engaging way.

Importance of Gita Jayanti

Gita Jayanti brings us close to the profound knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita. It also reminds us to be thankful to Maharishi Ved Vyasa, one of the greatest sages, who worked hard to bring to us the wise teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.

The Srimad Bhagavad Gita contains 700 verses, conveying the importance of values such as Dharma (duties), holiness, selflessness and desireless actions.

Dharma means doing what is right and good, and holiness is about feeling connected to something bigger than ourselves i.e. God. In the Gita, Bhagwan Krishna emphasises Nishkaam Karma, doing our duty without the desire for results. It is a way to live a more purposeful life.

The Bhagavad Gita teaches us how to be good and connected to ourselves. The Bhagavad Gita is considered a way to achieve freedom from our false desires and ego that ultimately brings us closer to God; God blesses us with the wisdom to do the right things and to find the right purpose to live. Hence, the main reason for celebrating Bhagavad Gita Jayanti is to remember the words of Gita and to implement them in our lives.