Rajnath describes Bhagwad Gita as essence of life

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today described the 'Bhagwad Gita' as the essence of life and said its message could rid the world of the problems, including terrorism, the humanity faced.
India is the only country which could give the message of spirituality to the entire world, he said at an event on the concluding day of International Gita Mahotsav here.
Throwing light on the significance of the Gita, he said, "Our great saints had given the message of vasudev kutumbakam and treated the entire mankind as their family. Every religion in the world has its own Granth that paves the way to God. But Gita is the only Granth by following which spirituality could be achieved while living in this world."

Singh praised Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his cabinet colleagues for organising the event.
"Perhaps this programme is first-of-its kind in the country which was never seen or heard of," he said.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said Gita Jayanti is celebrated every year in Kurukshetra.

"But last year, the state government had announced celebrating it at the state level under which a three-day programme was held at the district level," he said.
"Lord Krishna had delivered the celestial message of Bhagwad Gita on this holy land of Kuruksehtra and to spread this message at the global level, we decided to organise Gita Mahotsav at international level under the guidance of Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj," Khattar said.

He said that one person each from 574 districts of the country had reached Kurukshetra with one Shloka scripted on their traditional dresses.
"They have also brought along soil from their respective districts which would be utilised to make a magnificent idol of Lord Krishna at Jyotisar in Kurukshetra to symbolise unity and integrity of the country. Apart from this, 18,473 school students together recited the 18 shlokas from 18 chapters of Gita and created a world record," he said.
Meanwhile, chanting of verses from the Gita was today
held in 25 countries simultaneously from 6 PM to 6:15 PM.

The countries were India, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, New Zealand, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the UAE, the UK and the USA, a Haryana government release said.
Khattar visited Jyotisar Tirath where Lord Krishna had given the celestial message of the Gita to Arjuna. He performed 'aarti' at Jyotisar, along with Swami Gyananand Maharaj.
Later in the evening, BJP MP and renowned actress Hema Malini performed the Draupadi dance. Though the show started after a two-hour delay, it had to be stopped midway for sometime as the open stage got wet due to mist.