In a major initiative to promote Sanatani traditions and religious teachings, Bengal is set to host a mega Geeta Path, collective recitation of the Bhagavad Geeta, with the organisers targeting the participation of 10 lakh people at the Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata on December 29. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may attend the programme as the chief guest, while Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat is also expected to be present.

The programme will be held from 9 am to 2 pm, with participants reciting selected verses from the second, twelfth and fifteenth chapters of the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta. Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, along with other prominent national leaders, state-level leaders and ministers, will also be invited.

The proposed mass recitation comes at a politically significant juncture for Bengal, following the BJP's sweeping victory in the 2026 Assembly elections. The party's success has been attributed, in part, to its effective use of Hindutva rhetoric to consolidate Hindu voters and expand its political footprint in regions with significant Dalit and other marginalised populations. The electoral outcome marked a major shift in Bengal's political landscape, with the BJP making substantial inroads into areas where it had previously struggled to establish a strong organisational presence.

Swami Pradiptananda Maharaj, popularly known as Kartik Maharaj, of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha in Beldanga, Murshidabad, said committees had been constituted at the district, sub-divisional and block levels across the state to oversee preparations. Promotional campaigns are currently underway in all districts to mobilise participation. The initiative has been taken in connection with Geeta Jayanti, with the aim of bringing together 10 lakh people for the collective recitation at Brigade on December 29.

According to Kartik Maharaj, Mohan Bhagwat will attend the programme, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be invited as the chief guest. Amit Shah and other prominent national leaders will also be invited. Heads of several renowned temples and religious missions from across the country, Vaishnava spiritual leaders and yoga guru Ramdev are expected to participate. A meeting scheduled for November 12 will finalise the detailed programme and the arrangements for the event.

The tradition of mass recitation of the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta in Bengal began in Nabadwip Dham in Nadia, a place closely associated with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Subsequently, overcoming various forms of opposition, a large-scale Geeta Path was organised at the Brigade Parade Grounds, where around 1.37 lakh people participated. Another programme at the Kawakhali grounds in Siliguri witnessed the participation of approximately 1.27 lakh people.

On another occasion, shortly before the Assembly elections, a Geeta Path was organised at Brigade, drawing an estimated gathering of around six lakh people despite transportation-related difficulties. The massive turnout generated considerable enthusiasm among the organisers and participants, reinforcing their ambition to organise an even larger congregation this time.

The December 29 programme is expected to carry significance beyond its religious dimension, particularly against the backdrop of the BJP's electoral triumph and the growing prominence of Hindutva politics in Bengal. The organisers are seeking to turn the event into a major public congregation centred on Sanatani traditions and the teachings of the Bhagavad Geeta.

Emphasising the contemporary relevance of the scripture, Kartik Maharaj said, "In the present times, the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta is highly relevant. It is essential for overcoming the chaos and mental distress that have emerged within us. As in previous instances, people from all religious backgrounds will participate in this Geeta Path programme."