Vaishnava festival
Gītā Jayantī: the day of the Bhagavad-gītā
The anniversary of the day Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gītā to Arjuna at Kurukṣetra.
What is celebrated
Gītā Jayantī commemorates the moment Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gītā to Arjuna, on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra, just before the war began. It falls on Mokṣadā Ekadashi, so it is also a day of fasting from grains and pulses.
It is a good occasion to start reading it, or to read it again.
How it is celebrated
- The Ekadashi fast is kept.
- In many temples all seven hundred verses are recited.
- Copies of the Bhagavad-gītā are given as gifts.
In 2026 it falls on 20 December 2026, according to the calendar calculated for London. Vaishnava dates follow the moon and change every year: check them in the calendar. Each temple organises its own programme; ask at your nearest one.