Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini visits the Mahabharata Experience Centre at Jyotisar in Kurukshetra and inspects its immersive galleries.
Jyotisar centre blends ancient storytelling with immersive technology; CM assures farmers of smooth paddy procurement
KURUKSHETRA / PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday said that people from across the world who wish to experience the epic story of the Mahabharata through modern technology should visit the Mahabharata Experience Centre at Jyotisar in Kurukshetra.
Saini said the centre, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is emerging as one of the prominent cultural and tourism destinations of Haryana as well as the country. Dedicated to the rich legacy of the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita, the centre offers visitors an opportunity to explore the epic through a combination of traditional storytelling and advanced technological experiences.
The Chief Minister was speaking to journalists during his visit to the Mahabharata Experience Centre at Jyotisar on Friday. Before inspecting the centre, Saini paid obeisance at the sacred Jyotisar pilgrimage site and performed prayers for peace, prosperity and well-being in the state. He also met children dressed as Lord Krishna and Radha and affectionately interacted with them.
During his visit, Saini inspected various facilities at the Mahabharata Experience Centre and issued necessary directions to Deputy Commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena regarding arrangements and other matters. He later visited the Radha-Krishna Temple at the Gita Gyan Sansthanam complex, offered prayers and performed a traditional swing ritual for Lord Krishna.
Gita scholar Swami Gyananand Maharaj honoured the Chief Minister by presenting him with an angavastram. Former minister of state Subhash Sudha, BJP district president Ramesh Saini and BJP leader Jai Bhagwan Sharma were also presented with angavastrams on the occasion.
Saini said the Mahabharata Experience Centre has been conceptualised to bring the epic narrative of the Mahabharata and the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad Gita to a contemporary audience through the integration of traditional narration and modern technology.
He said Jyotisar holds special spiritual significance as the sacred land traditionally associated with Lord Krishna’s discourse to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita. The development of the experience centre at this location, he added, provides an important platform for cultural interpretation, experiential learning and heritage tourism.
According to the Chief Minister, the centre is spread over approximately 17 acres and has more than one lakh square feet of indoor space. Advanced technologies, including augmented reality, UV laser technology, projection mapping, holographic presentations and immersive visual experiences, have been incorporated to recreate important episodes from the Mahabharata.
He said the immersive galleries present significant events, characters and philosophical themes from the epic in an engaging format. The combination of traditional narratives and modern technology allows visitors to understand the Mahabharata from a broader and more experiential perspective.
The facilities have been designed keeping in mind a diverse range of visitors, including pilgrims, tourists, students, researchers and families. Saini said the centre has the potential to make the ancient epic more accessible to younger generations while also providing visitors with a deeper understanding of the cultural and philosophical heritage associated with Kurukshetra.
The Chief Minister said the Mahabharata Experience Centre represents a contemporary presentation of India’s ancient cultural heritage. By presenting the philosophy of the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita through modern mediums, the centre is also contributing to the government’s efforts to establish Kurukshetra as a major destination for spiritual, cultural and heritage tourism.
He said Kurukshetra’s association with the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita gives the region a unique position on India’s cultural map. The use of modern technology at the experience centre, he added, can help attract visitors from different parts of India and abroad while providing them with an immersive introduction to the region’s heritage.
Responding to questions from journalists, Saini also addressed concerns regarding the upcoming paddy procurement season. He said the state government is in continuous contact with the Central Government and assured farmers that paddy procurement would be undertaken.
The Chief Minister explained that excessive moisture in paddy can create difficulties for commission agents and procurement agencies. He appealed to farmers to bring their produce in accordance with the prescribed moisture parameters so that the procurement process can proceed smoothly.
Saini assured farmers that the government would take all necessary steps to ensure that they do not face difficulties during the procurement season. He said coordination with the concerned agencies would continue and arrangements would be made to facilitate the procurement process.
The visit combined a review of Kurukshetra’s cultural and heritage infrastructure with discussions on issues directly affecting farmers. The Chief Minister’s visit to Jyotisar also underscored the state government’s emphasis on using technology to present the region’s historical and spiritual heritage to a wider audience.
Former Haryana minister of state Subhash Sudha, BJP district president Ramesh Saini, Deputy Commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena, Superintendent of Police Chandra Mohan, Media Coordinator Tushar Saini, Chairman Ravinder Sangwan, president Jitender Khaira and other prominent citizens were present during the visit.
According to the Chief Minister, the centre is spread over approximately 17 acres and has more than one lakh square feet of indoor space. Advanced technologies, including augmented reality, UV laser technology, projection mapping, holographic presentations and immersive visual experiences, have been incorporated to recreate important episodes from the Mahabharata.
