On the auspicious occasion of Gita Jayanti, the advent day of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, students from all grades put up an all day long celebration program on 17th October, at the Bhaktivedanta Gurukul and International School, Vrindavan. Arrays of colorful placards depicting the shlokas of Bhagavad Gita, the thematic displays of Bhagavad Gita teachings, mellifluous shloka recitation, high-spirited book distribution and of course the exuberant kirtans made it a remarkable event that gurukulis will always cherish.

Under the expert guidance of Ashram Manager Himanshu Das, who has recently taken the responsibility, the program went exceptionally successful. Preparations had started almost a month in advance. All the chapters of Bhagavad Gita were discreetly dispensed amongst teachers and students well in advance, who rehearsed to make a smooth and a beautiful recitation program of the entire Gita. Writing task of ‘4 shlokas each student’ involved the majority of Gurukulis in preparation of colorful placards covering all 700 shlokas of the Bhagavad Gita, which arrayed and beautified the stage. Also the previous year’s ‘Transcendental Quilt’- Quilt prepared from 700 pieces of colorful clothes covering the entire Gita- hung majestically across the stage impressing everyone with profound messages of Gita.

After the half day recitation program and a grand Ekadashi feast, a group of four teams, each consisting of setout for a 3-hr book distribution venture. Some went around the local town of Vrindavan and some highly enthusiastic ones even went all the way up to the railway station in Mathura.

“It was a great experience to try to convince people to buy Bhagavad Gita. I was ignored many times but didn’t lose hope because I knew they NEED this book.” comments Brij Mohan (9). The distribution scores went above a hundred with 80 Bhagavad Gitas.

The program concluded with an exciting quiz competition, designed and hosted by Himanshu Das. The four hour program with varieties of audio-visual questionnaire kept every one glued. The winners of book distribution and quiz competition were awarded in the next morning assembly.