Gita Mahotsav’s arrangements collapsed on concluding day

Photo—Hema Malini performing ‘Dropadi’ dance at Kurukshetra 

2) Raj Nath Singh and Haryana CM lighting lamps for ‘Aarti’ at Brahma Sarovar

3) Deep Daan by Raj Nath Singh at Brahma Sarovar 

Kurukshetra December 11---The police arrangements made for the five days Gita Mahotsav virtually collapsed on the concluding day yesterday as the vehicular traffic throughout the town remained jammed due to lack of traffic police at the crossings starting from outer-roads to the destination at Brahma Sarovar.

While the traffic around Brahma Sarovar remained chocked since 3 pm, the traffic was bumper to bumper from GT road to Brahma Sarovar. It was moving on snare speed and a distance of over 5 kms took over 2 hours. All most all the police force was deployed inside and around Brahma Sarovar inview of the visit of Union Home Minister Raj Nath Singh and other dignitaries including Haryana Chief Minister for participating in the ‘Deep Daan’ ceremony at the Brahma Sarovar.

Being the concluding day as well as the attraction of Hema Malini dance drama in the evening it drew great rush of visitors since morning. Over three lakh people are reported to have reached at Brahma Sarovar yesterday. It was anti-climax for many who could not reach Parshoutam Pura Bagh at the Brahma Sarovar to see the last cultural programme presented by Hema Malini.

Looking to the rush at the ‘pandal’ the main gate towards Parshoutam Pura Bagh were closed by the police about 5.30 PM, half an hour before the ‘Deep Daan’ ceremony. Even many journalists could not reach at the venue. These infuriated thousands of visitors who were maltreated and pushed back from the main gate by using force by the police. Visitors alleged that the cultural functions at the Purshoutam Pura Bagh had become reserved for the family members of the politicians and the officers. Many asked why the administration was inviting the public through advertisement if they could not make arrangements for them.

Superintendent of Police, Simardeep Singh said that the main doors were closed to control rush at the venue of Hema Malini’s dance, to prevent any chaos.

The people who could manage to reach the ‘Pandal’ were also disappointed as the well-advertised 'Dropadi’ dance by Hema Malini started 2 hours late than the schedule time of 6.30 pm. Chief Minister Haryana and other dignitaries kept on waiting for the dance. Mismanagement came to fore when she wanted the make the stage dry as it had got wet due to dew due to open stage. Five minutes after starting the dance, Hema stopped the dance again, as chorographer announcing that the stage is not perfect for dance and needed to be dried again so that it may not cause injury to any artist. It took another ten minutes to dry the stage and lay a carpet on it that dance could start.

Though the two and half hour Dance drama depicting the life of Dropadi from beginning to end of Mahabharta was splendid but still it left bad taste for many due to mismanagement.   

Earlier, what may pass as a rare event, global chanting of verses from Shrimad Bhagvad Gita was done simultaneously in 25 countries from 6 pm to 6.15 pm today to spread the eternal message of Gita in the entire world.
          The countries where the verses were chanted include India, Canberra-Australia, Bahrain, Vancover-Canada, Paris-France, Hong Kong, Jakarta-Indonesia, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, UAE, UK, California, Arizona, Chicago and New York in USA
          Earlier, Union Home Minister Mr Rajnath Singh, Haryana Chief Minister Mr Manohar Lal, Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj, Education Minister Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, Health Minister Mr Anil Vij, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Mr Krishan Kumar Bedi, MLAs Mr Subhash Sudha and Mr Pawan Saini had participated in the global chanting and recited the verses from Bhagwad Gita with others at sacred Brahamsarover in Kurukshetra. 
          Deepdaan and Gita Aarti were also performed at sacred Brahamsarover. Later on, the Chief Minister Manohar Lal has visited the Jyotisar Tirath where the Lord Krishna had given the celestial message of Gita to Arjuna. He performed Deepdaan and Aarti at Jyotisar alongwith Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Mr Krishan Kumar Bedi, MLAs Mr Subhash Sudha and Mr Pawan Saini.