Geeta Maitri Milan, Hyderabad - 30 th April 2023

Like every other Hindu occasion starts, this event too started with Ganesh Vandana by anchor didi, Sajja Pratyusha didi. Geeta Maitri Milan as the name suggests is the platform to meet all the participants and Geeta sevis associated with online Geeta classes since 2020. This time the event was organised in Hyderabad on 30 th April.

The event started with humble beginnings by Geeta Pariwar's National Director, Dr. Shri Sanjay Malpani bhaiya. His head was lovingly smeared with the Kumkum tilak which is the symbol of auspiciousness.

Men in white shirts, white dhotis with white golden border shawls on their shoulders while women in traditional sarees added customary touch to the event. The background traditional drum beats mesmerised the show.

The crowd reiterated “Krishnam vande Jagadgurum” slogans and bhajans simultaneously. Deep Prajwalan was done.

Madhurashtakam and Dashavataram were presented enchantedly in a traditional Indian dance form, Bharatanatyam by some dancers embellished ethnically. Later their teacher and they were all honoured with Krishna idol for their charming performance. The one hour was so engrossing so far.

The Dias was set next with many important following speakers:-

• Shrimati Sunita Dharak didi, bhagyanagar head
• Shrimati Shraddha Raodeo didi, Experienced trainer
• Shree Dr Sanjay bhaiya, National Director
• Shree Harinarayan vyas ji, Madhyanchal head
• Shree Arun ji, Telugu trainer
• Sushri Rupal didi, Learngeeta, Program Coordinator

Sanjay bhaiya was honoured with a beautiful brocade shawl and alluring Krishna idol. Later Hari nyas bhaiya greeted the audience with humble prostrations to param pujya Swami Govind dev Guruji maharaj ji. In 1986 , Geeta Pariwaar came into being in Sangamner with Swamiji and late shree Omkar Nath ji Malpani Ji's continuous selfless efforts.

Mission statement “Geeta padhe padhaye aur jeevan mein laye” is worth remembering at that time.

हर घर गीता, हर कर गीता - "Geeta in every home, Geeta in Every hand". Let's come together with the motto of Geeta Pariwar and gift lifetime cherishable Geeta classes to our family, friends & acquaintances. He briefed about various offline works going since last 37 years in the form of following endeavours like weekly bal sanskar sessions, where children learn many cultural activities, yoga kendras, sanskar shivir, cultural events in communities and schools, offline Geeta classes. Many yearly events are conducted like Geeta jayanti, Vishwabandhutwa diwas

(bday of swami Vivekanand Ji), Krishnashtami etc. Some 5 yearly events like Sanskar festival, Yoga festival, Geeta festival were also organised. Special sessions are also done by Sanjay Bhaiya. Two words for mother and father, Nation builders, National shivir tejoham, Sanskar combination etc.

Covid period started online classes in the following formats -

• Learngeeta
• Shri Vishnunaamastotram
• Ramaraksha
• E - sanskaar vatika

Learn geeta highlights were six lakh plus participants and more than 700 Geeta vratis. Classes in 13 languages in 18 time slots starting from morning 5 am till 2 am (ist ). More than 100 books have been published so far.

Some of the outstanding Achievements of Geeta Pariwar are -

1. 75 Crore surya namaskar Guinness book record set.

2. Geeta festival with 35,000.

3. Yoga festival with 12,500.

4. Golden book of records set for online Learngeeta classes.

5. Prime minister, Mr Modi ji's hearty appreciation is a proud moment for all Geeta pariwar members.

Rupal didi was also felicitated with the shawl, Krishna idol and tulsi plant. Smt. Neha Vyas didi venerated Sanjay bhaiya with a poem. Sanjay bhaiya began his online journey's experience with Rupal didi's call and his many doubts regarding Sanskrit grammar and pronunciation. Link creation and sharing for their first online WhatsApp group. 250 people were the max people allowed in a group. 10 groups were created on the first day. Since then no looking back. Bhaiya took us all to his memory lane to describe the details of initial trainers having difficulty while operating zoom and thus TA post was created. Soon, OGC became a family uniting activity. L1 with 2500 people was accomplished. There was a steady increase in the joining of new members. It is always a team effort with blessings from Swamiji which helped to achieve this feat. He exemplified Shraddha didi's efforts to teach jail candidates and insisted all to memorise Geeta chapters.

He motivated all to be courageous at all times. Burn our negative tendencies with regular exposure to Geeta and Krishna's sayings. “nirvair, निर्वैंर” is an important attribute to be learnt. No one can have a sound sleep keeping hatred in heart. He reiterated the fact of learning Geeta from a young age and not just as a common mistakenly notion of a scripture to be learned only in old age. Courage has to be shown always.He gave an important tip to deal with failures. If one door is shut, many other doors are opened. Just keep looking and trying.

Dharma definition is also given beautifully as the start and end letter of full Geeta which is otherwise misunderstood completely in today's context of Hindu, Muslim and Christian.

Whatever we do as per our inner nature with admiration, doing our duties in the right manner is our Dharma. In the first chapter, not a single word has been spoken by Shri Krishna . He kept listening patiently to Arjuna which is the starting point of any conversation. We should be

inspired to listen in our family lives. Second chapter onwards Krishna started speaking and third chapter He's describing acute acidity and depression symptoms. Sit beside Lord's feet to get knowledge. Our smile is a true depiction of our love towards Krishna. God helps those where three times family members recite Hanuman Chalisa and then take their dinner. Change your mindset to transform deeds into karma yoga.

Anger, greed and lust are your biggest enemies and lead you to hell. Then you tend to be unconscious and blabber. So you need to control. Reading Bhagwad Geeta helps us tremendously. The choice is mine. It's between B (birth) and D (death). Sanjay bhaiya made everyone play a clap game with 1,2,3. Bhagvad-Geeta changes your mental conditioning. Habits can be changed by removing H, A, B, I, T one by one. Determination is required to tread the Geeta path.

We change ourselves, world is changed; We change ourselves and the era has changed.

QR code led form was introduced to form team 11. Behaviour should be changed with powerful thoughts. Donate your blessings, precious time, credit of the work, surplus items religiously to the noble cause.

Later, Geetavratis were honoured by Swamiji's signed certificates and medals. Everyone posed smiling proudly for a group pic.

Many including Santosh Somani didi and VVLN sarma bhaiya were felicitated.

Last but not the least, many curious questions were answered by Sanjay bhaiya very aptly with following insights -

• No expectations of the desired results lead a student to perform stress less.
• Many sorrows in your life have a purpose. Never accuse God for anything.
• Geeta can be read in both death ceremony and any other ceremonies because it's the purest form of a scripture.
• Love all.

Shraddha didi, Pratyusha didi, Riya didi and Neha didi were honoured with a token of blessings from Swamiji in the form of a shawl for their extraordinary contribution of PDF creation in Telugu, organising the Maitri day.

The event was thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed by all.

Geeta Pariwar has become a symbol of love and devotion. May Krishna krypa flows abundantly always.