The International Gita Mahotsav 2024 will be celebrated in Kurukshetra, the birthplace of the Bhagavad Gita, from November 28th to December 15th, announced Chief Minister Nayab Saini on Friday. This year’s festival will showcase a divine confluence of spirituality, culture, and art.
Tanzania will be the partner country for the event, while Odisha will be the partner state. Tanzania, which also participated in the International Surajkund Crafts Fair in February, has a significant Indian diaspora that actively organizes recitations of the Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita. The numerous Hindu temples in the country further foster a connection between Indian culture and Tanzania.
Odisha, with its renowned pilgrimage sites like Jagannath Puri, the Konark Sun Temple, and the Lingaraj and Mukteshwar Temples in Bhubaneswar, is a source of pride for Sanatan culture. The Bhagavad Gita Mahotsav will offer a glimpse into this rich heritage.
Haryana shares a long-standing relationship with Tanzania, with delegations from the state visiting the country twice, comprising industrialists, farmers, and representatives from various trades. Tanzania, serving as a gateway to Africa, shares deep economic and social ties with Haryana. The International Gita Mahotsav aims to enhance this partnership, with Tanzanian ministers expected to participate. The event will provide Tanzanians with a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Haryana, leveraging the similarities between the two regions to further strengthen their relationship.
Since its inception in 2016, the International Gita Mahotsav has gained immense popularity, attracting lakhs of people from India and abroad. Last year, approximately 45 to 50 lakh people participated, and a similar turnout is expected this year. In 2019, the festival expanded internationally, being held in Mauritius and London, followed by celebrations in Canada in September 2022, Australia in April 2023, and Sri Lanka and England in 2024.
