Gita Jayanti (Mokshada Ekadashi) · Gita Jayanti, Mokshada Ekadashi

Culture of origin: Hindu · Cultural

Holiday sources: Hinduism

Gita Jayanti marks the day the Bhagavad Gita dialogue took place between Arjuna and Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, just before the war, when Arjuna, facing his relatives, teachers and friends, turned to Krishna for help. Kurukshetra, in Haryana, holds the International Gita Mahotsav around its Brahma Sarovar, and pilgrims walk the 48 Kos Parikrama. The day is also called Mokshada Ekadashi. This is the Smarta date; the Vaishnava fast can fall a day later.