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Kurukshetra Festival
Kurukshetra, Haryana, is the battlefield of the epic Mahabharata, on which Lord Krishna gave Arjuna, the Pandava prince, the advice enshrined in the Bhagwad Gita, the Holy Book of the Hindus. It is believed that Lord Brahma created the universe from Kurukshetra after performing a great yajna (sacrifice) here. Manu is said to have written his Manusmriti here, and it the Rig and Sama Vedas (Hindu holy scriptures) are also believed to have been compiled here. Lord Buddha and the Sikh gurus came visiting. All-in-all, it is an ancient holy land associated with the origins of Hinduism. The Kurukshetra Festival coincides with Gita Jayanti, which celebrates the birth of the Gita. It is expectedly an exhilarating and spiritual experience. Pilgrims gather to take a dip in the sacred tanks of Brahma Sarovar and Sannehit Sarovar. Religious festivities include week-long Bhagwad Katha (Story-telling sessions of the Gita), recital of shlokas (sacred verses), dance dramas and deep daan at Brahma Sarovar. Free medical camps, book exhibitions and recitals of bhajans (religious songs) in the classical tradition are also organized.