On Saturday 16^th July 2016, ISKCON Laguna Beach held its first ever Gita Champions League event. It was organized as part of ISKCON’s 50 year anniversary. The program was announced in April with local core ISKCON 50 team. It was advertised using social media, stores and door to door to reach out to a wider audience.

A total 30 signed signed up and prepared for two months. Additional guidance and preparations were taught at the Sunday school in Laguna Beach. According to Krishna “This knowledge is king of knowledge and most secret of all secrets.” The kids are very fortunate to have had an opportunity to learn this knowledge. After the exam, kids were provided sumptuous prasadam by the temple.

The prize ceremony was held on July 30th, 2016 at a regular Sunday feast program. Top 3 winners received theme park prizes (Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and Discover Cube) for their excellent performance. In addition, all participants received beautiful certificate and cookie goody bags with pictures of Krishna and Arjuna.

The Gita Champions League (GCL) is a competition based on the teachings of the ancient book of knowledge, the Bhagavad Gita. This contest was an inspiring and motivating way to help everyone to absorb themselves in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, enrich and refocus their life in the right manner. GCL was a written test primarily targeting students from age 7 to 14. The test based on following key topics of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is written by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of ISKCON:

Search for happiness

Does god exist?

Who am I?

One god or many gods

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Practical application of Bhagavad-Gita

Parents expressed their appreciation and joy for having access to this universal knowledge, which will help their kids to improve their lives as well as society. Organizers were pleasantly surprised to find that apart from the kids their whole families were involved in studying the Gita.

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ISKCON Laguna Beach Gita champions team is welcoming everyone to contact them to organize this event at any temple in the world.

Please reach out to them at gitachampionsquiz@gmail.com