Gita Mahotsav begins in Kurukshetra

The International Gita Mahotsav-2016 began today here sans festivities in view of the death of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
President Pranab Mukherjee cancelled his scheduled visit to Kurukshetra in Haryana for the inauguration of the Mahotsav in view of the death of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
The Mahotsav commenced, amid chanting of hymns and 'Gita Pujan' performed by Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
The Mahotsav is being organised to mark Gita Jayanti from December 6 to 10.
Reaching the sports complex of Kurukshetra University here, the Governor and Chief Minister met the 574 delegates from different districts of the country representing an equal number of shlokas of Shreemad Bhagavad Gita, who had arrived for the Mahotsav.

They later reached Purshottampura Bagh, Brahma Sarovar, where they, along with the Ministers and other dignitaries, performed Gita Pujan amid chanting of hymns.

Earlier, President cancelled his visit for the Mahotsav.
"President (Pranab Mukherjee) has decided not to come for the inauguration of the International Gita Mahotsav-2016 in view of the demise of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa," Khattar told PTI.
President was to inaugurate the International Gita Mahotsav-2016 at Brahma Sarovar and the international seminar on Gita at Shri MadBhagwat Geeta Auditorium at Kurukshetra University here.
Haryana Governor while addressing the gathering said that President's visit to Kurukshetra was cancelled because of the death of Tamil Nadu CM.

"Sometimes man proposes and God disposes. But his (President's) blessings are with us and I hope in remaining days of the event, he will come once," said Solanki.
Haryana government observed one-day state mourning as a mark of respect to J. Jayalalithaa. The National Flag was flying at half-mast and no official entertainment was held.
At the crafts mela, the beating of drums and dances, which were being performed on the banks of Brahmsarovar for the last four days were stopped.
The Governor and Chief Minister inspected the model of Gita Gyan Sansthanam, where research on all aspects of the Bhagavad Gita would be carried out.

The Governor said the entire world would gain knowledge of the Gita through the Gita Gyan Sansthanam, which would inculcate moral values in every person.