Governor Shri Bandaru Dattatraya chairs International Gita Mahotsav review meeting
-Efforts should be made to make Gita Mahotsav a social event: Governor
-Engage important spiritual organizations in International Gita Mahotsav: CM
Chandigarh, November 23, 2024: Haryana Governor Shri Bandaru Dattatraya in the august presence of Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday chaired a review meeting at Raj Bhavan with regard to preparations for the coming International Gita Mahotsav, scheduled to be held from November 28th to December 15th, 2024 at Kurukshetra. Odisha is the partner state for the mega spiritual annual event, while the United Republic of Tanzania is the partner country.
Shri Dattatraya stressed the need for making more efforts to make International Gita Mahotsav a social event. “Slowly and steadily, the International Gita Mahotsav should become a social event where the state government plays a supportive role, and everything related to the Mahotsav is managed by different stakeholders in the society,” he said.
The Governor said that prominent spiritual personalities from across the country should also be invited to the International Gita Mahotsav. The southern states of India are not much aware of this grand spiritual event. “By eminent religious personalities and making optimal utilization of digital platforms we can further expand the reach of the event,” he said.
Shri Dattatraya said that there is also a need to widen the structural ambit of the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) by appointing national level personalities as its members. He also said that some women should also be appointed as the members of KDB.
In his concluding remarks, Shri Dattatraya said that the International Gita Mahotsav should have a dedicated programme for women. Similarly, efforts should be made to draw more and more children from the deprived sections of society such as SCs, STs and OBCs for the recital of Gita, he said.
Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini, while underscoring the need for involving more and more stakeholders in organizing the International Gita Mahotsav, said that social and spiritual organizations such as Nirankari Mission, Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan, NCC cadets and NSS volunteers should be positive involved.
Inquiring about different programmes and competitions to be held during the International Gita Mahotsav, Chief Minister Shri Saini said that the winters of online Gita quiz and other top competitions should be physically honoured during the event. He also suggested that efforts must be made to involve NRIs and industrialists in the celebration of International Gita Mahotsav.
Taking stock of the ongoing sanitation drive and beautification works, the Chief Minister said that nothing should be left unturned to ensure total neatness and cleanliness in and around the event venue. He also said that trees in Jyotisar should be properly decorated with lights to create a panoramic view.
Expressing his satisfaction over the preparations being made for the mega annual event, which draws lakhs of visitors from across the world, Chief Minister Shri Saini said that Hon’ble Governor Shri Bandaru Dattatraya has rightly suggested making the society principal stakeholder in organizing the International Gita Mahotsav.
“Let us make sure that more and more people from the neighbouring villages participate in Deepotsav programme. Every possible venue should be explored where the people can contribute to the Mahotsav,” said Chief Minister Shri Saini, while asking the KDB to explore the possibility of holding a wrestling competition during the Mahotsav.
The Chief Minister also took stock of the arrangements being made for parking of vehicles, plying special buses from the District Headquarters to Kurukshetra during the Mahotsav, installation of temporary dustbins, toilets, and signages for the convenience of guests and visitors.
Chief Secretary Mr Vivek Joshi, Gita Manishi Sri Gita Manishi Gyananand Ji Maharaj, Political Advisor to CM, Shri BB Bharti also shared their valuable inputs in the meeting. Mr K Makarand Pandurang, Director, Department of Information and Public Relations, briefed Hon’ble Governor and Chief Minister Shri Saini about publicity measures having been taken for the International Gita Mahotsav!
Prominent among others who attended the meeting included Mrs Kala Ramachandran, Principal Secretary, Tourism; Mr Atul Dwivedi, Secretary to Governor, Mrs Neha Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Kurukshetra; Advisor, IT, to Governor, Mr BA Bhanu Shanker, CEO, KDB, Mr Pankaj Setia, Mr Pawan Choudhary, Advisor to CM Haryana, Foreign Cooperation Department, and members of KDB. Shri Upendra Singhal, Honorary Secretary, KDB, made a power-point presentation on the International Gita Mahotsav-2024.