Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while appreciating the successful organisation of the recently concluded International Gita Mahotsav in Japan, said that the festival would further strengthen cultural cooperation between India and Japan. He directed officials to extend a special invitation to a Japanese delegation for the International Gita Mahotsav held in Kurukshetra and to take necessary initiatives to further enhance cultural and academic exchanges between the two countries.
A detailed report on the International Gita Mahotsav-Japan was presented to the Chief Minister at his residence on Friday. The report was submitted in the gracious presence of Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj by Dr. Amit Kumar Agrawal, Member Secretary, Kurukshetra Development Board; Upendra Singhal, Honorary Secretary; and Vijay Narula, Member, International Gita Jayanti Mela Authority.
The delegation informed the Chief Minister that a total of 18 programmes were successfully organised during the seventh International Gita Mahotsav held in Japan from June 18 to 23, 2026. The primary objective of the festival was to promote the universal message of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita in Japan, encourage academic and cultural cooperation, and further strengthen cultural ties between India, particularly Kurukshetra, and Japan.
During the festival, copies of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita were presented to members of Japan’s House of Councillors (Upper House), the IDP Headquarters, the Osaka Assembly, and a former Prime Minister of Japan. An International Gita Symposium was organised at the University of Tokyo, where extensive discussions were held on the global message and contemporary relevance of the Gita.
In addition, a special exhibition highlighting cultural similarities between India and Japan, various cultural programmes, Gita Yajna, Global Gita Recitation, Gita Sadbhavana Yatra, and a grand Gita Aarti on the banks of the Arakawa River were organised.
One of the major attractions of the festival was a special 40-minute presentation of the Gita through Japan’s renowned Kabuki theatre tradition, which was enthusiastically attended and appreciated by a large number of Japanese citizens.
The delegation also visited the historic and prestigious Otani University in Osaka. Detailed discussions were held with the university’s Vice-Chancellor regarding the promotion of academic and cultural exchanges between India, particularly Kurukshetra, and Japan, as well as the expansion of research activities related to the Gita.
Additionally, the delegation held meaningful discussions with the Mayor of Kyoto, Japan’s cultural capital, on establishing sister-city relations and enhancing cultural cooperation.
The delegation stated that the core objective of the festival is to develop interest among students and young researchers in the study and research of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, encourage Gita-based research in universities, and elevate cultural and academic cooperation between India and Japan to new heights.
It is noteworthy that previous editions of the International Gita Mahotsav have been successfully organised in Mauritius, London, Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, with Japan becoming the seventh international destination in this series.
