The International Gita Mahotsav (IGM) in Kurukshetra is rich with educational and intellectual offline activities, all centered on the core teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. These programs move beyond simple cultural display to engage scholars, students, and the general public in deep learning and intellectual exchange.

Here are the primary offline educational activities:

1. International Gita Seminar (Academic Program)

• Format: This is the most formal and high-level educational event, typically running for three days.

• Venue: It is held at a major academic institution, usually Kurukshetra University.

• Focus: It attracts scholars, philosophers, and researchers from across India and over 15 foreign countries. These experts present their research papers and perspectives on the Bhagavad Gita, discussing its political, spiritual, psychological, and practical relevance in the contemporary world. It serves as a platform for global academic discourse on the scripture.

2. Mass Recitation and Chanting Events

• Global Gita Path (Akhil Bhartiya Gita Path): This massive event is a grand, synchronized chanting of selected shlokas (verses) from the Gita. Over 21,000 students gather at a large venue like the Kurukshetra Theme Park to chant in unison. The goal is to deeply instill the wisdom of the Gita into the youth and create a powerful, positive spiritual energy.

• Bhagwad Katha Reading: Daily sessions are held where esteemed spiritual leaders and scholars provide discourses and interpretations (katha) of the Bhagavad Gita, offering practical lessons and deepening the public’s understanding of the text.

3. Student Competitions (Offline)

The IGM hosts numerous offline competitions specifically designed to engage students and encourage them to study the Gita and the epic Mahabharata. These are held in person and include:

• Shloka Recitation: Testing memory and pronunciation of the Sanskrit verses.

• Essay Writing: Encouraging analytical thought on the philosophical concepts of the Gita.

• Painting/Pencil Sketching/Collage Making: Encouraging artistic expression inspired by the events and themes of the Mahabharata.

• Rangoli/Fancy Dress: Creative expression related to figures and stories from the epic.

4. Book Exhibitions and Stalls

• Gita Book Fair: A major book fair runs for the main week of the festival at the Brahma Sarovar. Major national and international publishers set up stalls, offering a vast collection of religious, spiritual, and philosophical literature, with a specific focus on different editions and commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita.

• Educational Pavilions: The Partner State (e.g., Madhya Pradesh) and various organizations set up educational pavilions and exhibitions that use visual aids and artifacts to narrate the stories of the Mahabharata and the lessons of the Gita.

These offline educational activities ensure that the Mahotsav remains not just a religious or cultural event, but a significant forum for intellectual and moral enlightenment.