Gita Jayanti is the sacred day when, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Lord Krishna taught the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. It is celebrated on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi, also called Mokshada Ekadashi. In 2026 Gita Jayanti is on Sunday, 20 December. Below are the tithi, Parana time, Gita puja vidhi, chapters to read, key shlokas and the Mokshada Ekadashi katha.
Gita Jayanti 2026: date and Parana time
| Detail | Time (Delhi, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Gita Jayanti / Mokshada Ekadashi | Sunday, 20 December 2026 |
| Ekadashi tithi begins | 19 December, about 10:09 PM |
| Ekadashi tithi ends | 20 December, about 8:15 PM |
| Parana (breaking the fast) | 21 December, about 7:09 AM to 9:13 AM |
| Dwadashi tithi ends | 21 December, about 5:36 PM |
| Smarta / Vaishnava fast | Both on 20 December |
This time Ekadashi tithi prevails at both Arunodaya and sunrise on 20 December, so householders and Vaishnavas all fast on the same day. See the Parana time for your city on the When is Ekadashi page.
Significance of Gita Jayanti
At the start of the Mahabharata war, when Arjuna saw his own kin before him, he was overcome by attachment and grief and laid down his bow. Lord Krishna then taught him karma, jnana and bhakti. This dialogue is the Bhagavad Gita — 18 chapters and 700 verses, part of the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. The Gita is the only scripture whose jayanti is celebrated, because it is considered the Lord’s own word.
In Kurukshetra, Haryana, where the Gita was taught, the International Gita Mahotsav is held around Gita Jayanti — with deep daan at Brahma Sarovar, Gita recitals and processions. ISKCON and Krishna temples across the country also hold Gita path and Gita daan.
Gita Jayanti puja samagri
- A copy of the Bhagavad Gita
- A picture or idol of Lord Krishna (ideally teaching Arjuna)
- A chowki, yellow or red cloth
- Yellow flowers, tulsi leaves, sandalwood, roli, akshat
- A ghee lamp, incense, camphor
- Fruit, panchamrit, makhan-mishri (no grain bhog, as it is Ekadashi)
- Copies of the Gita to give in charity
Gita Jayanti puja vidhi — step by step
- Bathe in the morning and take the sankalp of the Mokshada Ekadashi fast before Lord Krishna. Keep a waterless or fruit fast as you are able.
- Spread a yellow cloth on a chowki, and place Krishna’s picture with the Gita in front of it.
- Apply roli and sandalwood to the Gita and offer flowers and tulsi. Offer yellow flowers, tulsi and makhan-mishri to Shri Krishna.
- Light the ghee lamp and read the Gita — all 18 chapters, or at least chapters 2, 12 and 15.
- Chant “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” 108 times and read the 1000 names of Lord Krishna.
- Sing Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki and Om Jai Jagdish Hare.
- Give a copy of the Gita to a student, temple or library. Break the fast next day in the Parana time.
Key shlokas of the Gita
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥
Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati Bharata, abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srijamyaham (4.7). Meaning: O Bharata, whenever dharma declines and adharma rises, I manifest myself.
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana, ma karmaphala heturbhur ma te sango stvakarmani (2.47). Meaning: your right is to action alone, never to its fruits. Do not act for the fruit, and do not be attached to inaction.
The 18 chapters of the Gita at a glance
| Chapter | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arjuna Vishada Yoga |
| 2 | Sankhya Yoga |
| 3 | Karma Yoga |
| 4 | Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga |
| 5 | Karma Sannyasa Yoga |
| 6 | Atma Samyama (Dhyana) Yoga |
| 7 | Jnana Vijnana Yoga |
| 8 | Akshara Brahma Yoga |
| 9 | Rajavidya Rajaguhya Yoga |
| 10 | Vibhuti Yoga |
| 11 | Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga |
| 12 | Bhakti Yoga |
| 13 | Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga |
| 14 | Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga |
| 15 | Purushottama Yoga |
| 16 | Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga |
| 17 | Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga |
| 18 | Moksha Sannyasa Yoga |
Mokshada Ekadashi vrat katha
According to the Padma Purana, King Vaikhanasa once ruled the city of Champaka. One night he dreamt that his father was suffering in hell and begging to be freed. Troubled, the king asked the Brahmins for a remedy, and they sent him to the ashram of Parvata Muni.
Through his yogic power the sage saw that the king’s father was in hell because of a sin in his past life. He advised the king to keep the Mokshada Ekadashi fast of Margashirsha Shukla paksha and offer its merit to his father. The king kept the fast with his family and gave its merit to his father. At that moment flowers rained from the sky, and the king’s father was freed from hell and went to heaven.
That is why Mokshada Ekadashi is called the Ekadashi that gives moksha to the ancestors. See every Ekadashi date and name on our When is Ekadashi page.
Rules of Gita Jayanti
- As it is Ekadashi, do not eat rice or grain on this day.
- Do not pluck tulsi leaves on Ekadashi — pluck them a day earlier for the puja.
- Keep the Gita in a clean place on a raised seat and read it with respect.
- Break the fast in Dwadashi, in the given time. The sick, pregnant women and the elderly should keep a fruit fast.
Read more on Wikipedia and see our Vrat Calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When is Gita Jayanti 2026?
Gita Jayanti is on Sunday, 20 December 2026, Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi (Mokshada Ekadashi). Ekadashi tithi runs from about 10:09 PM on 19 December to about 8:15 PM on 20 December.
When is the Mokshada Ekadashi Parana?
Break the Mokshada Ekadashi fast on Monday, 21 December, between about 7:09 and 9:13 AM (Delhi). Dwadashi tithi lasts until about 5:36 PM on 21 December. This time both Smarta and Vaishnava fasts are on 20 December.
Why is Gita Jayanti celebrated?
It is believed that on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi Lord Krishna taught the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. This day is celebrated as the appearance day of the Gita — Gita Jayanti.
Which chapter of the Gita should be read on Gita Jayanti?
If possible read all 18 chapters. If time is short, chapter 2 (Sankhya Yoga), 12 (Bhakti Yoga) and 15 (Purushottama Yoga) are considered especially auspicious. Chapter 7 is also read for the peace of ancestors.
How many chapters and verses are in the Bhagavad Gita?
The Bhagavad Gita has 18 chapters and 700 verses. It is part of the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata.
