On the occasion of Geeta Jayanti, a mass Gita recitation was organized on Sunday at the historic Brigade Parade Ground of Kolkata metropolis. Thousands of saints and sages including Shankaracharya Sadanand Saraswati of Dwarka Peeth were present on the occasion. More than one lakh people collectively recited Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta.
People of all age groups reached Brigade Ground in traditional attire and recited Geeta with the saints. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to attend the program as the chief guest, but due to some reason he could not come. The program started at 10 am with Sanskar Bharati Bhajan. The procession was taken out at 10:30. Aarti took place at 11:05. Veda was recited from 11:15 to 11:30.
After this Shankaracharya was selected. He gave the welcome speech. Collective Geeta recitation started with conch sound from 12:10 pm. The organizers said that at the beginning and end of the Gita recitation, a famous song by Bengal’s famous poet Nazrul Islam was sung.
People had applied online and offline to participate in the program. The organizers claim that 1 lakh 37 thousand people recited Geeta together. People from South Bengal, Kolkata and surrounding districts had come to the program.
Union Minister Subhash Sarkar, Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly Subhendu Adhikari, BJP MP Dilip Ghosh, State BJP President Sukant Majumdar and other BJP leaders were present on the occasion. This event was organized under the leadership of Bharat Sevashram Sangh, All India Sanskrit Parishad, Motilal Bharat Teerth Seva Mission and Sanatan Sanskriti Manch.
Sadhus and saints from 1500 ashrams came to the program. About 70 thousand people had arrived with conch shells. Provision was made for dhoti for men and saree for women. Geeta was recited in five chapters. Originally two pavilions were prepared.
Trustee of Bharat Sevashram Sangh Swami Pradiptanand Maharaj, Vice President of the Organizing Committee Nirgunanand Brahmachari Maharaj, General Secretary of the Organizing Committee Basant Sethia etc. were present in the program. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Governor CV Anand Bose were also invited to the programme, but they did not attend.
In the program, 20 blocks of five thousand people each were formed. On the occasion, State BJP President Sukant Majumdar said that Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta is India’s biggest gift to the world. Those who are making fun of this program do not have any respect for Hindu religion and its traditions. Those who are trying to divide Hindus will never succeed in this. This is a cultural program. This has nothing to do with politics. Many big leaders of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also participated in the program.