Chandigarh, July 3:- Chief Minister Shri Naib Singh Saini, while praising the successful organization of the International Gita Mahotsav program held in Japan recently, said that this Mahotsav will further strengthen cultural cooperation between India and Japan. He directed to specially invite the Japanese delegation to the International Gita Mahotsav to be organized in Kurukshetra and to take necessary steps to further strengthen cultural and educational exchange between the two countries.
On Friday, the detailed report of the International Gita Mahotsav-Japan was presented to the Chief Minister at the Chief Minister's residence. This report was presented by Dr., Member Secretary, Kurukshetra Development Board, in the solemn presence of Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj. Amit Agarwal, Honorary Secretary Upendra Singhal and Vijay Narula, Member, International Gita Jayanti Mela Authority.
The delegation informed the Chief Minister that a total of 18 different programs were successfully organized under the Seventh International Gita Mahotsav held in Japan from 18 to 23 June 2026. The main objective of the Mahotsav was to propagate the universal message of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita in Japan, enhance educational and cultural cooperation and further strengthen cultural ties between India, especially Kurukshetra, and Japan.
During the Mahotsav, Shrimad Bhagavad Gita was presented to the House of Councilors of Japan, IDP Headquarters, Osaka Assembly and the former Prime Minister of Japan. An International Gita Sangoshti was organized at the University of Tokyo, where a wide-ranging discussion was held on the universal message and contemporary relevance of the Gita. In addition, a special exhibition based on the cultural similarities of India and Japan, various cultural programmes, Gita Yag, Global Gita Path, Gita Sadbhavana Yatra and a magnificent Gita Aarti on the banks of the Arikawa River were also organized. One of the main attractions of the festival was a Gita performance of about 40 minutes through the famous Japanese Kabuki theatre style, which was enthusiastically watched and appreciated by a large number of Japanese citizens. The delegation also visited the ancient and prestigious Otani University (Osaka) in Japan. Detailed discussions were held with the Vice Chancellor of the university on enhancing educational and cultural exchanges between India, especially Kurukshetra, and Japan and expanding research activities related to the subject of Gita. Apart from this, the delegation held meaningful discussions with the Mayor of Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan, on the subject of establishing sister city relations and enhancing cultural cooperation. The delegation said that the main objective of the festival is to develop interest in the study and research of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita among students and young researchers, to promote Gita-based research in universities and to take cultural and educational cooperation between India and Japan to new heights. It is worth mentioning that earlier the International Gita Mahotsav has been successfully organized in Mauritius, London, Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka and Indonesia and Japan was the seventh international event in this series.