The opening ceremony of the International Bhagwat Gita Festival was held on March 1, 2, and 3 at the Nelum Pokuna theater premises with the participation of many distinguished guests.

Accordingly, on the first day of March (01), Rangoli and painting competitions, cultural fashion elements, Shloka singing competitions, Yagga singing, colorful cultural performances, and music concerts were also held here.

The series of religious events related to Sri Bhagwat Gita, which is considered the holy book of Hindus, and to pay homage to Sri Bhagwat Gita, the Kurukshetra Development Board of the state of Haryana in India conducts the annual Bhagwat Gita Festival, and this time it was done in Sri Lanka in a grand manner by the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs.

Hindu priests, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center Director Professor Ankuran Datta, Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake, Ministry Secretary Mr. Somaratne Vidanapathirana, and additional secretaries, department directors, officials of the Ministry's affiliated institutions, and schoolchildren joined the occasion.

On the second day of the International Bhagwat Gita Mahotsava, the Bhagwat Gita Mahotsava is organized annually by the Kurukshetra Development Board of Haryana, India, to pay homage to the Sri Bhagwat Gita, which is considered the holy book of Hindus, and the series of religious events related to the Sri Bhagwat Gita. This time, it was done in Sri Lanka with grandeur.

Geeta Manish Swami Gayananad Ji, Swami Guru Sharananad Ji Maharaj, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, Kurukshetra Development Board CEO Dr. Vishali Sharma, Kurukshetra Development Board Secretary Vikas

Gupta, Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake, Professor Asanga Thilakaratne, Ministry Secretary Somarathne Vidanapathirana, and additional secretaries, department directors, officials of the Ministry's affiliated institutes, and a group of Indo-Sri Lankan dignitaries joined the occasion.

For the International Bhagavad Gita Festival, a special Satbhavana Yatra procession was held on March 3 with the participation of many Indo-Ceylon dignitaries.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena participated in this procession, where Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake and Gita Manish Swami Gayananad Ji presented a book containing the Bhagavad Gita to the Prime Minister.

This special procession started from the Nelum Pokuna theater premises and proceeded to the Nelum Pokuna theater through the New City Hall premises in Colombo.

The series of religious events related to Sri Bhagwat Gita, which is considered the holy book of Hindus, and to pay homage to Sri Bhagwat Gita, the Kurukshetra Development Board of the state of Haryana, India, conducts the annual Bhagwat Gita Festival, and the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs organized this event in Sri Lanka.

Maha Sangharatna, Hindu priests, Minister of Transport, Highways, and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, Member of Parliament Yadamini Gunawardena, and many distinguished guests joined the occasion.