New Delhi,
The Haryana Government will develop 134 sites related to the epic Mahabharata in Kurukshetra and adjoining districts to boost religious tourism with financial

help from the Union government.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said today that the selected sites included 15 venues in Kurukshetra that were already being developed as part of the

Krishna Circuit with Central assistance of Rs 95 crore.

The new sites are located in Karnal, Kaithal, Jind and Panipat districts. These would be developed at an outlay of Rs 250 crore, he said.

The Chief Minister detailed government plans at a press conference convened to announce preparatory steps for the annual Gita festival in Kurukshetra to be

held from November 17 to December 3.

Cabinet colleagues Om Prakash Dhankar, Rao Narbir Singh and Vipul Goel accompanied him. Like last year, the government would celebrate the event this year

as an international event on a grand scale. It was christened “International Gita Mahotsav”.

Khattar said though the festival would be kicked off early, President Ram Nath Kovind would launch it on November 27.

He would participate in the “Gita Yajna” and “Gita Poojan” ceremonies at Brahma Sarovar. Kovind would inaugurate an international seminar on Gita in

Kurukshetra University the same day.

The valedictory session of the three-day seminar would be held at Brahma Sarovar as “Sant Sammelan” on November 27, in which saints and seers of various

faiths from across the world would participate.

Mauritius has been made the partner country and Uttar Pradesh the partner state regarding the event. Khattar said the number of countries participating in the

crafts fair and cultural activities would be higher than last year’s 31.

A former Prime Minister of Mauritius, RSS chief and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister are among the dignitaries who have confirmed their participation in the

festival.

Khattar said global chanting of Bhagavad Gita would be held at Brahma Sarovar and Jyotisar, the birthplace of the scripture, from 6:30 pm on November 30.

Subsequently, a procession of tableaux named “Gita Shobha Yatra” would pass through the city.