Gita Jayanti | Gita Mahotsav 2024

Gita or Geeta Jayanti is the auspicious day when the most divinely powerful Srimad Bhagwad Geeta was recited by Bhagwan Krishna. This is the day when Bhagwan Krishna imparted the essence of personal growth, ethical conduct, and spiritual enlightenment to Arjuna during the Kurukshetra Mahabharat War over 5000 years ago.

As stated in the Gita Mahatmya, if one properly understands & imbibes the teaching of Bhagwat Geeta, one can be freed from all miseries and anxieties in this life. Bhagavad Geeta literally means the song of the Supreme Deity. It is one of the most popular Hindu Text in the world.

What is Gita Jayanti? Geeta Jayanti Meaning

The Bhagavad Gita is the most important and influential Hindu script, influencing many people, and Gita Jayanti commemorates its birthday. That's why it's also known as Bhagavad Gita Jayanti. This day is in the month of Shukla Paksha. This celebration takes place in November or December, depending on the Gregorian Calendar. On this auspicious day, Bhagwan Krishna issued an eternal message to Arjuna at Kurukshetra. This day is celebrated by Bhagwan Krishna devotees all around the globe.

Everything About Bhagavad Gita Jayanti 2024

Bhagavad Gita is worshipped as the holy scripture of the Hindus especially Vaishnavites & Krishna Devotees. It is believed to be divulged by Bhagwan Krishna to Arjuna during the Mahabharata battle that occurred in Kurukshetra. The Bhagavad Gita Jayanti is an auspicious occasion observed annually on Mokshada Ekadashi in Margashirsha month.

If we look at the English calendar, it tends to fall between November to December. Devotees of Bhagwan Krishna including the ISKCON (International Society of Krishna Consciousness) commemorate this day with a grand celebration and fanfare.

When is Gita Jayanti Celebrated? Date, Time and Tithi

5161st Anniversary of the Gita

Gita Jayanti on Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Mokshada Ekadashi on Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Ekadashi Tithi Begins - 03:42 AM on Dec 11, 2024

Ekadashi Tithi Ends - 01:09 AM on Dec 12, 2024

Why do we celebrate Gita Jayanti?

Gita Jayanti celebrates the day Bhagwan Krishna imparted Arjuna the core of Vedic knowledge and the principles of Dharma on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. This historic occurrence, which happened on the auspicious day of Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi, is documented in the Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism's most cherished texts. The Bhagavad Gita, often known as the 'Song of God,' includes deep spiritual insight and direction for living a moral life, completing one's obligations, and comprehending the nature of the self and the cosmos.

Gita Jayanti is not just a celebration of Bhagwan Krishna's exceptional discourse with Arjuna, but also a day to meditate on the Gita's everlasting lessons. Devotees throughout the globe honor this day by reading the Bhagavad Gita, participating in Satsangs, Kirtans, intellectual discussions about the Morality, Ethics & Purpose of Human Existence. The festival emphasizes the significance of inner strength, moral ideals, pursuit of truth and morality in one's life. It also emphasizes the need to yield to the divine will and comprehend the fleeting nature of the material world. Gita Jayanti encourages people to seek knowledge and implement Gita teachings in their everyday lives, promoting spiritual development and a stronger connection with the divine.

Lessons of Bhagwad Gita

There are several lessons we can learn from this ancient Hindu scripture. We can try to incorporate some of them into our daily lives.

Dharma (Sacred Duty): All of us come into this world with a ‘duty’ we must accomplish during our lifetime. For Pandava Prince Arjuna, it was the responsibility to be a warrior during the battle. But for the rest of us, it could be the duty of being a Good Daugher/Son, Teacher, Parent, or Friend. Sacred duty is the moral order that withstands society, the cosmos and the person. We can utilize this concept to help us in our daily responsibilities by not viewing them as burdens, but as sacred duties we need to fulfil.

Disciplined Action: In Mahabharata, Arjuna hesitates in the middle of the battleground, thus forgoing his sacred duty as a warrior. Then Bhagwan Krishna orders him to act and fulfil his responsibilities. In difficult times, we are often paralyzed and plagued with doubt and fear. The lesson that we can learn from here is to never stop turning the wheel that has already been set in motion because when we do, we bring our development and growth to a halt.

Self-Knowledge: The divine deity Shri Krishna discusses a lot about self-mastery. Without it, we tend to be like an enemy at war. Bhagwan Krishna speaks to us about how we need to break ignorance with self-knowledge. Our knowledge is often clouded by our desires. We tend to think that the material things we possess and the titles we hold can help support us, but they are all short-lived. Krishna told Arjuna not to worry about the aftermath, but rather to fight this war as it is his sacred duty on this planet.

Interesting & unknown facts about Bhagwad Geeta Jayanti

Gita Jayanti, the day Bhagwan Krishna presented the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, is historically and spiritually significant. Beyond its well-known teachings, there are a few lesser-known facts about this holy day that help us comprehend its significance in Hindu culture:

1. Gita Jayanti is an annual celebration to commemorate the day when Bhagwan Krishna rendered his philosophical teachings - immortalized in the epic Mahabharata - to prince Arjuna on the first day of the 18-day battle of Kurukshetra.
2. When Arjuna refused to fight against his cousins, the Kauravas in the battle, Bhagwan Krishna expounded the truth of life and the philosophy of Karma and Dharma to him, thereby giving birth to one of the world's greatest scriptures, the Gita.
3. The greatest quality of Bhagavad Gita is that it prompts an individual to think, to take fair and right decisions, to look at life differently and refreshingly without surrendering one's identity.
4. The Gita has been addressing contemporary issues and solving everyday problems of humanity for millennia.
5. It is believed the 'Bhagavad Gita' was revealed to Arjuna by Sri Krishna Himself in the battlefield of Kurukshetra (in present day Haryana, India). The text is written in third person, narrated by Sanjaya to King Dhritarashtra as it transpired between Sri Krishna and Arjuna. Sanjaya, the secretary of the blind King Dhritarashtra, had been blessed by his Guru, Vyasadev, with the power to remotely view the events taking place on the battlefield as they transpired.
   
6. It is generally observed by en-masse recitation of all 700 verses of the Gita chanted throughout the day. Devotees also fast on this day since it is Ekadashi day.
7. In places where this festival is celebrated grandly, stage play and Gita chanting competitions are held for kids to show their talents to encourage their interest in reading Gita. Yogis, Sanyasins and learned scholar gives talks and held forums of this holy scripture.
   
8. In Malaysia, The Gita Jayanti Team celebrates Gita Jayanthi annually with the cooperation of different Hindu organizations to create self-realization among all Hindus.

How to Celebrate Geeta Jayanti? What to do on Gita Jayanti?

Since it is Mokshada Ekadashi on the same day one can follow the rituals of this Ekadashi and observe a fast.

Read More: Mokshada Ekadashi

Organize or participate in Bhagwat Katha, Bhajan, Kirtans & Satsangs.

One can organize a Srimad Bhagwat Geeta Path which is traditionally recited by Pandits

Book Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta Paath

One can distribute or donate Bhagwat Geeta at Ashrams, Orphanages, Old Age homes, Community Halls to spread the message of this Holy Text.

One can participate in sermons, discussions, debates & lectures which philosophize the teachings of Bhagwat Geeta.

One can read the Bhagwat Geeta to understand its lessons and introspect or meditate on the learnings derived from this text.