JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (ADV) – Mauritius is set to host the International Gita Mahotsav for the first time, with the underlying principle of spreading a message of peace and harmony across the world this week.
The Mister of Arts and Culture, Prithvirajsing Roopun, said for this event set to be hosted for the first time outside India, was a matter of great pride and honour for Mauritius.
“The celebrations will provide an opportunity to seekers to purify themselves and adopt the way of knowledge, action and devotion as preached by the Bhagwat Gita for liberation of the soul,”
The four-day festival, which is set for tomorrow until Saturday, is celebrated annually to commemorate the birth of the Bhagwat Gita, the sacred scripture containing invaluable advice of Lord Krishna, that he proffered about 5000 years ago to Arjuna, the third Pandava in the battlefield of Kurukshetra on the first day of the famous 18-day battle in the Mahabharata.
Minister Roopun further dwelt on a message of the Bhagwat Gita which according to him, was a milestone in the philosophical history of the world.
“Traditionally it is believed that the message of Gita was delivered by Lord Krishna and since then, 5156 years have elapsed,” he pointed out.
Roopun added that a series activities were being organised by the Kurukshetra Development Board, Haryana in collaboration with his Ministry, the President’s office, the Indian High Commission in Mauritius and other socio-cultural associations.
These activities include the Gita Sadbhavana Yatra, Gita Yagya and Gita Poojan, inauguration of exhibition and craft bazzar, and Gita seminars, amongst others.
The celebrations are also set to witness cultural shows and spiritual events and Minister Roopun made an appeal to the population to participate actively in the celebrations.
© Bur-JHB – B.M / N.N – African Daily Voice (ADV) – Follow us on Twitter : @ADVinfo_eng
