Curtains drawn on Gita Mahotsav

With a Gita podcast and the conclusion of the Saras and craft fairs, the International Gita Mahotsav-2024, on the banks of Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra, concluded on Sunday.

While the cultural events and main events of the IGM were organised from December 5 to 11, the Saras and craft fairs were organised from November 28 to December 15. Next year, the Deepotsav and Deepdaan ceremony of the IGM-25 are expected to take place on December 1.

While Tanzania was the country partner, Odisha was the state partner for the mahotsav this year. The partner state and country introduced their literature and folk art to all people who came to the festival. Artistes from various states presented the folk culture of their respective states to the audience through their dances and folk songs.

The artistes, dressed in traditional attires, accorded a rousing welcome to the visitors and dignitaries. Over 250 craftsmen from over 24 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Chhattisgarh, had reached Kurukshetra with their craft. A huge crowd was witnessed on the banks of Brahma Sarovar during the Mahotsav, especially during the weekends, and the traders and artistes did brisk business in the fairs.

Honorary secretary of Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) Upender Singhal said, “Over 100 organisations actively participated in the festival and the KDB played the role of a facilitator. We focused on sanitation and beautification during the mahotsav. As many as eight stages were established for cultural programmes in which artistes from Haryana, Punjab, Odisha and other states, besides the country partner Tanzania presented cultural performances. Next year the Gita Jayanti will be marked on December 1 and the Madhya Pradesh has expressed interest to be the state partner for the IGM next year.”

“The festival is getting bigger with each passing year. Around 800 stalls were set up by the craftsmen, self-help groups, artists, social and religious organisations and government departments. On all 18 days, havan was orgnaised at Brahma Sarovar, for which various organisations had volunteered. This year, for the first time, a Gita Podcast was organised on the last day of the mahotsav and from the next year, it will be a regular feature. Besides this, seminars on ‘Pancha Janya-The Kurukshetra Dialogue’ and ‘The Resonance of Haryana’s step towards economic transformation’ were organised,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner, Kurukshetra, Neha Singh said, “With the collective efforts of officials, employees, local residents and visitors, the International Gita Mahotsav (IGM)-24 has successfully concluded. The mahotsav has earned the reputation of an international-level festival. Visitors from various states reach Kurukshetra to attend the mahotsav.”

Besides the main stage, Haryana and Odisha Pavilions, cultural events were organised at the 182 Tirthas under 48-kos of Kurukshetra. Various renowned artistes, including Meenakshi Seshadri, Hans Raj Hans, Ashutosh Rana, Dr Kumar Vishvas, Gajendra Phogat, Mahabir Guddu, Ranju Parsad and sand artist Manisha performed during the main events from December 5 to 11.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Governors Bandaru Dattatreya (Haryana), Gulab Chand Kataria (Punjab), Gurmit Singh (Uttarakhand) and Arif Mohammed Khan (Kerala), Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Manohar Lal Khattar, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Ministers Nayab Singh Saini and Dr Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh) were among the dignitaries who attended the mahotsav.