Kurukshetra Comes Alive: A Game Release Rooted in the Gita
- Games For Seva
- May 20
- 5 min read
There are moments when learning moves beyond books, beyond classrooms—and becomes something you can see, feel, and experience. The release of Kurukshetra, a student-driven strategy card game inspired by the Bhagavad Gita, was one of those moments.
On Sunday, April 26, 2026, the halls of AsaMai Temple, Hicksville came alive with energy, reflection, and celebration as the Young Indian Culture Group’s teen program (GVLP) hosted the Om Shanti X 3 Festival, a student-led event marking 10 years of learning through play.
At the heart of this festival was the much-awaited release of Kurukshetra, a strategy card game inspired by the Bhagavad Gita. But what unfolded that afternoon was far more than a game launch. It was a powerful showcase of how games, storytelling, and self-discovery can come together in a deeply meaningful way.
More Than a Game
At first glance, Kurukshetra is a fast-paced deck-building game. Players begin with simple resources—Sevaks and Farmhands—and gradually build their strategy using Warriors, Astras, Equipment, and Chants, all with the goal of reducing their opponent’s Life Points.
But as players quickly discover, the real game is not just on the table.
Every move reflects a deeper choice:
Do you act impulsively or pause and think?
Do you focus on quick wins or long-term strategy?
Do you react emotionally, or act with clarity?
As students often describe it:“Your deck is your mind. Your cards are your choices.”
A Festival of Games, Reflection, and Creativity
The Kurukshetra release was part of a larger immersive experience. The Om Shanti X 3 Festival was designed around three dimensions of peace:
Adhyātmika Śānti (Peace Within)
Adhibhautika Śānti (Peace With Others)
Adhidaivika Śānti (Peace With Nature)
To bring these ideas to life, the event featured 14 interactive tables where families rotated through different games created and led by students:
Memory Maya tables explored inner awareness and mindfulness through values-based play
Clash of Dynasties tables brought out themes of relationships, conflict, and decision-making
Ganga River Rescue tables highlighted environmental responsibility and interconnectedness
Kurukshetra tables drew participants into strategy, reflection, and the “inner battlefield”
There was also a game sale table and a creative art corner, adding to the vibrant, festival-like atmosphere.
Parents and kids didn’t just watch—they played, discussed, and learned together.
From Tables to Stage
As the afternoon progressed, the focus shifted from gameplay to performance.
Students from different grade groups brought the themes alive through short skits and stage presentations, each connecting a game to a deeper life lesson:
Younger students reflected on mindfulness and emotions through Memory Maya
Middle schoolers explored conflict and clarity through Clash of Dynasties
Older students presented gratitude and flow in nature through Ganga River Rescue
Seniors tied it all together with a Kurukshetra-inspired finale, emphasizing the idea of the inner war
The stage wasn’t about elaborate props, it was about ideas, confidence, and clarity. The transitions from playful skits to thoughtful insights captured the essence of GVLP: learning that is both engaging and meaningful.
The Game Release Moment
The official release of Kurukshetra was a highlight of the event.
Students who had been part of the design, development, and playtesting journey were recognized on stage. From initial ideas to refined mechanics, the game had been shaped by months of effort—testing strategies, balancing cards, and connecting gameplay to Gita principles.
As the game boxes were unveiled, there was a shared sense of pride, not just in the final product, but in the journey behind it.
Tree of Shanti
The Tree of Shanti, led by Smitha Shetty, became one of the most reflective spaces at the festival. Students and families wrote down personal promises—to themselves, to others, and to nature—and added them to the tree.
Each note was a small but meaningful commitment, turning reflection into action.
By the end of the day, the tree stood as a collective expression of intention—reminding everyone that peace begins with the choices we make every day.
Digital Photo Booth
The Digital Photo Booth became a favorite spot at the festival—featuring creative, Kurukshetra-inspired digital backdrops that students and families could instantly use.
In line with GVLP’s values, the focus was on sustainability—using digital props and backgrounds instead of one-time-use materials, reducing waste while keeping the experience fun and engaging.
It was a simple idea, but a meaningful one: celebrating the moment while being mindful of our impact.
The Kurukshetra Hack
One of the most dynamic moments of the festival was the Kurukshetra Hack—a fast-paced, team challenge where students stepped into a modern-day battlefield of ideas. Drawing from real-world themes like misinformation, identity, culture, and advocacy, teams were given a challenge on the spot and just 30 minutes to think, collaborate, and present their strategy.
There was no script and no preparation—only clarity of thought, strength of ideas, and the ability to act in the moment. Students were pushed to think like true strategists: mastering their inner responses, navigating complex perspectives, and presenting solutions with confidence. It was a powerful reminder that Kurukshetra is not just a game we play—but a way we think, decide, and act in the real world.
A Decade of Play with Purpose
The festival also celebrated 10 years of GVLP, a program built on a simple yet powerful idea:Play. Reflect. Act.
Over the years, students have not just learned stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, they have reimagined them through games, discussions, and creative expression.
Kurukshetra stands as a milestone in that journey, bringing together strategy, storytelling, and self-awareness in a way that resonates with today’s generation.
As the festival came to a close, the battlefield didn’t disappear, it simply moved within.
Kurukshetra will travel far beyond this day into classrooms, competitions, and homes—but its true journey is inward.
Because every choice, every reaction, every moment of pause is part of the same timeless battle.
And perhaps that is its greatest gift:To remind us that victory is not over others but over our own impulses, patterns, and fears.
A truly student-led effort, guided by dedicated mentors and supported by an amazing community—this is Kurukshetra.
Aadit Pushpakaran - Aanya Gupta - Aarav Bahl- Aarav Bahl- Aarthi Palaniappan-Aarush Chowdhery- Aashna Shah- Adhvaith Sreenivas- Adrian Nieves-
Advay Danwale- Agastya Chada- Aidan Thomas- Anamika Rajesh- Ananya Gosalia
Anjali Thomas- Ansh Venkatesh- Arav Muni- Arjun Rajagopalan- Aryan Rishi
Asha Bahadka - Avantika Shah- Bhuvi kumar- Cye Venkat Kolla- Daksh Sardana
Devpriya Gosalia- Dhanvi Sharma- Dhruvi kumar- Dhwaja Patel- Eshan Thopcherneni
Hanshal Kumar- Harshil Pipwala- Hridhaan Shetty - Irya Kumar - Ishi Rai- Jay Shah
Jay Krishna Kolla- Jeel Patel- Kaavya Shorewala- Kajal Tripathi- Khushi Shah
Krish Venkatesh- Lakshitha Lakshmanan- Laylakshi Deonarine- Naren Ranganathan
Neev Bhutani- Neil Shah- Nikhil Peter- Nikita Kumar- Nitin Rajagopalan- Prishya Saini- Radhika Sardana- Raghav bansal- Rahul Kandukuri- Reyna Kamity- Rheya Shah
Ria Bahl- Rishik Bahl- Saadhvi Prasad- Saanchi Sharma- Saanvi Anantha- Sahil Gupta
Samarth Balani- Samarth Motaganahalli- Samyuktha Iyer- Sanskriti Rathore-
Sanvi Nair- Shivaani Ramkumar- Shreya Kedia- Smera Gandhi- Soor Patel-
Suhani Reddy Gaddam- Sumira Chandrashekhar- Tanisi Sardana - Tara Visvanathan
Vedant Balani- Vishwa Vasudevan- Zaina Dhingra
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