'International Gita Mahotsav' on Dec 6

The 'International Gita Mahotsav', being celebrated by the Haryana government in Kurukshetra from December 6 to 10, will set a world record with the recitation of 'Ashtadash Shaloki Gita' by as many as 18,000 students at one go, an official spokesman said.
Besides, it is for the first time that it will be simultaneously chanted by hundreds of people in many countries of the world, he said.
President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the Mahotsav on December 6, the spokesman said.
During Mahotsav, youths from 574 districts of the country will reach Kurukshetra, showcasing one Shloka each scripted on their traditional dresses.

They would also bring along sand from their respective districts which would be utilised to make an idol of Lord Krishna to symbolise unity and integrity of the country, he said.
To spread eternal message of Gita to the world community, global chanting of Srimadbhgvad Gita would also be held on Gita Jayanti Day before the final 'deepdan' ceremony at Brahamsarovar in Kurukshetra.

Eighteen selected verses of Gita from as many chapters would be recited on the occasion.
The countries where global chanting would be held include India, Canberra-Australia, Bahrain, Vancover-Canada, Paris-France, Hong Kong, Jakarta-Indonesia, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Newzealand, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, UAE, UK, California, Arizona, Chicago and New York in USA, the spokesman said.

Deputy Commissioner Sumedha Kataria said the mega event would marks the birth anniversary of Bhagvad Gita.
It was delivered on the 11th day of the bright moon fortnight (Shukla Ekadasi) in the month of Margshirsh (November-December according to lunar calendar). The event is also celebrated elsewhere in India as Moksha Ekadasi, and this year it falls on December 10.
The International Gita Mahotsav has been designed to pay homage to the song celestial, Bhagvad Gita, which has been immortalised over the years by its tangible and intangible heritage, he said.
A seminar would be inaugurated by Mukherjee at Shri MadBhagwat Geeta Auditorium on December 6.

The same day, he would lay the foundation stone of Krishna Circuit. The urban and rural areas of Kurukshetra district would be declared Open Defecation Free.
The DC said out of the 700 Shlokas of Shrimad Bhagwad Gita, 574 were recited by Lord Krishna himself.
Therefore, one youth each from the 574 districts of the country has been chosen to represent a Shloka.