Gita Week

How the date is decided monthly

Gita Week starts on the day after Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) and continues until one day before Krishna Ashtami (generally lasts 7 days/nights)

Significance of the festival to Hinduism

During the build-up to Krishna Ashtami, devotees engage in spiritual activities. The singing of bhajans and kirtans (devotional songs in praise of God), reading and discussing Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita are some spiritual activities that devotees engage in to prepare for the auspicious moment of Lord Krishna’s appearance. For 7 days prior to the auspicious moment of midnight of the appearance of the Lord devotees are engaged in creating the right mood and atmosphere for the appearance of the Lord. In many temples in South Africa, the reading and the studying of the Bhagavad Gita takes place.

How to observe/practice

Each evening from the day after Raksha Bandhan to a day before Krishna Ashtami, devotees perform deity worship; sing bhajans and kirtans in Temples. The Temple Pundit or an expert on Bhagavad Gita will lead the singing of verses from the Bhagavad Gita and explain the sections read.

Updated: 25 January 2023