Chandigarh, November 14- Haryana Chief Minister said that this time the International Gita Mahotsav (IGM)-2022 will be more special for the devotees coming from all spheres as the President of India, Smt. Draupadi Murmu will especially be coming to attend this grand festival of Holy Gita.

Sh. Manohar Lal while addressing a press conference held here today said that Haryana is geared up for IGM-2022, President of India will formally inaugurate the main programmes with Gita Yagya at Brahma Sarovar on November 29, while the Mahotsav celebrations will start from November 19.

Sh. Manohar Lal shared that on November 29, 2022, the President of India, Smt.  Droupadi Murmu will formally inaugurate the main programmes to be held during the ‘IGM-2022’ with Gita Yagya at Brahma Sarovar. After this, on the same day, she will inaugurate the three-day International Gita Seminar at Kurukshetra University.

“In this seminar renowned International and National scholars of Srimad Bhagavad Gita and researchers from across the country and abroad will present their research papers on 'world peace and harmony with the inspiration of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita'. This seminar will spread the importance of the message of the Holy Gita across the world,” shared Sh. Manohar Lal.

“I invite the people of the State and countrymen to Kurukshetra to participate in this holy Mahotsav and make lifetime memories,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that the developmental parameters set by our government are not only limited to infrastructure such as roads, buildings etc. but spiritual and holistic development has always remained our utmost priority as we have inculcated the teachings of Gita in our working, said Sh. Manohar Lal.

He said that like every year Saras and Craft Mela will also begin from November 19 to December 6. Sculptors from all over the country have made 21 special stone sculptures based on the theme of Mahabharata and Gita. Various craftsmen from across the country will showcase their talent", said Sh. Manohar Lal.

Divulging more details in this regard, the Chief Minister said that in this year’s 'International Gita Mahotsav-2022' Shri Ram Katha is  also being organized by Sant Murari Bapu Ji at Brahma Sarovar 2022. Thousands of devotees will come from all over the country to listen to the holy Ram Katha.

“It is a matter of great pride for us that this time the 'International Gita Mahotsav-2022’  is being organized during the ongoing celebrations of Azadi aka Amrit Mahotsav. Devotees from all spheres will once again get an opportunity to see the confluence of nationally renowned artists and craftsmen during this holy festival of Gita being organized on the banks of holy Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra,” asserted Sh. Manohar Lal.

He further shared that in the year 2019, this 'International Gita Mahotsav was also celebrated outside the country in Mauritius and London and this year only in the month of September it was also organized in Canada.

Inauguration of multimedia show

The Chief Minister shared that a 50-feet high statue of the Virat Swaroop of Shri Krishna has been constructed at Jyotisar, the birthplace of Gita.  A multimedia show based on Gita will be inaugurated through 3D mapping technology on this Virat Swaroop during this 'IGM-2022’.

This year’s Nepal will be the partner country and Madhya Pradesh will be the partner state

The Chief Minister further informed that for this year’s IGM, Nepal will be the partner country and Madhya Pradesh will be the partner state. A special pavilion has been set up by the MP government at Purushottampura Bagh, Brahma Sarovar highlighting its culture, crafts, food, etc.

Haryana Pavilion highlighting folk and tradition

The Chief Minister further shared that the Haryana pavilion showcasing folk dance, crafts, small-scale industries, food of the State will also be set up at IGM so that tourists and devotes visiting this holy festival can get a glimpse of Haryanvi culture and traditions.

“Exhibitions related to the development and progress of Haryana are also being organized by various departments to give detailed information about the welfare schemes being run by the government and the development of Haryana to the visitors,” added Sh. Manohar Lal.

Bhajan Sandhya and Grand Gita Aarti will be held daily

The Chief Minister said that Bhajan Sandhya will be organized daily on the holy bank of Brahma Sarovar and after that, a grand Gita Aarti will also be organized. This Aarti will similar to the grand evening Aarti held at other pilgrimages of the country.

Gita Marathon will be organized in Kurukshetra on November 18

The Chief Minister shared that on November 18, Gita Marathon will be organized in Kurukshetra.  Besides this, an online Gita Quiz competition related to IGM has already been started from November 1 and will continue till November 18. Many devotees including students are participating in it, shared Sh. Manohar Lal.

Sh. Manohar Lal further informed that citizens of many countries including India, the USA, Canada and Kuwait have also registered themselves in this online competition. So far, more than 50,000 people have registered for this competition.

Ambassadors of various countries to attend IGM-2022

The Chief Minister shared that ambassadors of various countries including Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Vietnam etc are likely to attend the IGM-2022.

“People from different countries connected through social media to get a glimpse of this holy festival. Even before the start of IGM-2022, more than 4 lakh people from more than 25 countries including America, Canada, Australia, UK, Poland and China joined this Mahotsav through social media. More than 3.80 lakh people have visited the page of the IGM-2022 website,” shared Sh. Manohar Lal.

He further shared that cultural programmes and Aarti will be organized at 75 pilgrimages of 48 Kos land.  Besides this, on the Gita Jayanti day, Deepotsav will be organized on December 4, shared Sh. Manohar Lal.

Sant Sammelan will be organized on December 3

The Chief Minister shared that on December 3, a Sant Sammelan will also be organized at Purushottampura Bagh, in which eminent saints of the country will meet and hold a spiritual discussion on the Holy Gita. This meeting of saints will certainly be a mesmerizing one for the devotees coming to attend IGM-2022.

On December 4, a conference will be organized at Kurukshetra University on pilgrimages in Kurukshetra in which devotees and social workers will remain present in large numbers,” shared Sh. Manohar Lal.

Global Gita Shlokas recitation by 18K children at IGM

The Chief Minister further informed that Global Gita Shlokas recitation will be done by 18000 students in Kurukshetra on Gita Jayanti Day on December 4.  On this occasion, 75000 students from all over the state and lakhs of Gita lovers and devotees from India and abroad will join through online medium.

Exhibitions are being organized by religious and social organizations throughout the IGM-2022 highlighting pilgrimages of Kurukshetra, Saint Kabir, Saint Ravidas, Maharishi Valmiki, Divya Jyoti, Chinmaya Mission, ISKCON etc. Gita Book Fair will also be organized in which more than 25 institutions and prominent publishers of the country will cooperate in making IGM-2022 a Mahotsav of knowledge by ensuring their participation,” shared Sh. Manohar Lal.

Earlier speaking on the occasion, Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji said that the relevance of the Bhagavad Gita has become more relevant in the present times. Every person should imbibe the teachings of the Gita in his life.

He said that the message of the Gita holds eternal relevance and it has been inspiring human beings for thousands of years. 

"Teaching and message of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita are not limited to India only as this holy boom belongs to the entire humanity. In the present time, Bhagavad Gita is a solution for all the global problems," said Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji.

He said that the knowledge and teachings of the Bhagavad Gita are a pride of Haryanavi.  This year 5159 years have been completed when Lord Krishna had given the immortal message of Gita to Arjuna on this holy land of Kurukshetra, added Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji.

"The pride of Haryana and each Haryanvais certainly become bigger with the organization of IGM in Haryana and abroad.  Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi and Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal always follows and inculcates the teachings of Bhagavad Gita in their personal and professional lives,"  said Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji.

Chief Minister launches publicity campaign on IGM-2022IGM-2022

IGM-2022 aims to bring Haryana and Kurukshetra on the world map. Since 2016 IGM-2022 has been successfully organised at the National and International levels. This will be the 7th IGM in which various programmes will be organized in all the districts in Haryana, said Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Director General Information Public Relations and Languages Department, Dr Amit Agrawal while welcoming the Chief Minister and other dignitaries at the press conference.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister also launched a  publicity campaign on IGM-2022 prepared by Information Public Relations and Languages Department.  A short documentary on IGM-2022 was also shown during the press conference.

Member Secretary, Kurukshetra Development Board, Sh. Vijay Singh Dahiya and other officers of Kurukshetra Development Board also remained present on this occasion.