The Bhagavad Gita is the most sacred, important Hindu script that influences numerous people, and Gita Jayanti is the birthday of Bhagavad Gita. This day falls on Shukla Ekadashi of the Margashirsha month. According to the English calendar, this festival occurs during November or December. It is that sacred day when Lord Krishna gave the immortal message to Arjuna in Kurukshetra. Followers of Lord Krishna all over the world celebrate this day. Gita Jayanti is celebrated by reading the Bhagavad Gita and discussing it with learned priests and scholars about how it has been benefiting humanity even today. Followers of Lord Krishna also fast on this as it falls on Ekadashi. Many devotional songs are sung and danced on together. People perform puja and distribute sweets. The main purpose of celebrating Gita Jayanti is to recall the words of Gita and to apply it in our daily life. It allows individuals and families to lead a courageous as well as an active life that is productive.
Rituals of the Festival
–          Temples dedicated to Lord Krishna celebrate this day with great enthusiasm, which includes performing puja along with special prayers.
–             Devotees from different parts of India and abroad, like to visit Kurukshetra on this day and take a holy bath in the sacred ponds.
–             Apart from holy bath, puja of Lord Krishna can be performed at home with aarti at the end.
–           Since, it is celebrated on Ekadashi, it is important that devotees who fast on this day do not consume any kind of grains like rice, wheat, and barley.
–             There have been many organized celebrations taking place to teach the value of Dharma to the youth of today through explanation of the Gita on this special day.
–            Over the years, Gita Jayanti is being celebrated in not only India but also Singapore and Malaysia in large scale. Temples in India who have deity of Lord Krishna also celebrate this day. Observing this day allows individuals to act correctly for the near future because one reads the holy book of Gita. It has also increased the popularity of Hinduism all over the world. All temples of ISCKON in the globe celebrate this day with proper rituals and offerings to the God.
Gita, The Crux Of Indian Spiritual Wisdom
It is said that the Vedas are vast and not very direct when it comes to the conveyance of their message. Several scholars believe that Bhagavad Gita is actually the crux of Vedic wisdom and the summary of Indian Spiritual Knowledge. In fact, Bhagavad Gita contains an ocean of wisdom, which has influenced Indian tradition for the last several millennia. Thus, reading Gita is like knowing a lot about Indian spiritual and philosophical wisdom.
Sanjay’s Narration Of
Bhagwad Gita
The text in Bhagavad Gita is written in the 3rd person, as it was narrated by Sanjay to King Dhritarashtra as it went on between Lord Krishna and Arjun. Sanjaya, the assistant to the visually challenged king Dhritarashtra, was blessed by his Guru Ved Vyas.; Sanjay was given the power to remotely view things on the battlefield as they were happening on the battlefield.
Importance Of Gita
Jayanti Festival
On Gita Jayanti day, devotees read the Bhagavad Gita and discuss it with learned priests and scholars on how is the Gita relevant and most helpful even today. Krishna devotees also fast on this day as it falls on Ekadashi. People sing devotional songs and also dance together. They do puja and distribute sweets (as prasad). The chief purpose of celebrating Gita Jayanti is to remember the words of Bhagavad Gita and make use of its wisdom in practical living. Inspired by Gita, people lead a courageous and active life.
Gita Jayanti Date
And Tithi 2020
–           Date for Gita Jayanti: 25th December 2020
–           Ekadashi Tithi Begins – 11:17 PM on Dec 24, 2020
–             Ekadashi Tithi Ends – 01:54 AM on Dec 26, 2020
Lasting Influence
The Bhagavad Gita is not just an ancient scripture but also serves as an essential guide to better living, conducting business, and communicating to the modern world. The greatest quality of Bhagavad Gita is that it prompts an individual to think, to make a fair and right decision, and to look at life differently and refreshingly without surrendering one’s identity. The Gita has been addressing contemporary issues and solving for everyday problems of humanity for millennia.
Kurukshetra, the Birthplace
This Hindu holiday is celebrated with great devotion and dedication, across the country and around the world, especially in the city of Kurukshetra, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP), where the famous epic battle of the Mahabharata took place. This place is sacred not only for the battle and the birthplace of the Gita but also because it is the place where the famous sage Manu wrote the Manusmriti and where the Rig and Sama Vedas were composed. Divine personalities like Lord Krishna, Gautama Buddha, and the Sikh Gurus’ visit also consecrated this place.
Celebrations in Kurukshetra
The day is observed with the reading of the Bhagavad Gita, followed by discussions and seminars by eminent scholars and Hindu priests to throw light upon the various facets of the holy book and its perennial influence on humankind for generations. Hindu temples, especially those dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna, conduct special prayers and pujas on this day. Devotees and pilgrims from all over India gather in Kurukshetra to take part in the ritual bath in the hallowed water of the sacred ponds – Sannihit Sarovar and Brahm Sarovar. A fair is also organized that lasts for about a week and the people participate in prayer recitals, Gita reading, bhajans, aartis, dance, dramas, etc. Over the years, the fair known as Gita Jayanti Samaroh has gained immense popularity, and a large number of tourists visit Kurukshetra during the event to participate in this sacred gathering.
Celebrations by ISKCON
At the temples of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) across the globe, Geeta Jayanthi is celebrated with special offerings to Lord Krishna. Mass recital of the Bhagavad Gita is performed throughout the day. Gita Jayanti is also celebrated as Mokshada Ekadashi. On this day, devotees observe fast and on Dwadashi (or 12th Day) fast is broken by taking a ritual bath and performing Krishna Puja.