Jhulan Yatra (Hindola Festival)

The sweet monsoon festival of swinging Radha and Krishna on decorated swings, especially loved in Vrindavan and in the Pushtimarg havelis of Gujarat.

Jhulan Yatra is a tender and joyful festival of the rainy season. The tradition of Braj describes how, in the month of Shravan, when the banks of the Yamuna turned green, clouds gathered and peacocks danced, the gopis hung flower-decked swings from the kadamba trees and gently swung Shri Radha and Shri Krishna. In memory of this sweet pastime, temples seat the divine couple on beautiful swings and rock them to and fro. For devotees it is considered a great blessing to pull the cord of the Lord's swing with their own hands.

The festival is held in the month of Shravan, which usually falls in July and August. In many temples, especially in the Gaudiya and ISKCON traditions, Jhulan Yatra runs for several days in the bright fortnight of Shravan and concludes on Shravan Purnima, the day of Raksha Bandhan. At the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, the darshan of Thakur Ji on a magnificent gold and silver swing on Hariyali Teej, Shravan Shukla Tritiya, is especially famous.

The swings are decorated with flowers, leaves, colourful cloth, pearls and lamps. Devotees take turns drawing a silken cord to swing the Lord while singers perform monsoon melodies such as malhar and songs about the swing. The temples of Vrindavan, Mathura, Barsana and Nandgaon are especially crowded during these days.

In the Pushtimarg havelis of Gujarat and Rajasthan the festival is called Hindola and continues for about a month. Each day a different hindola is prepared for Thakorji, sometimes of flowers, sometimes of fruits or dry fruits, sometimes of glass or silver, and the Vaishnavas lovingly sing the traditional hindola kirtans.

Tithi

Month of Shravan, especially the bright fortnight up to Shravan Purnima

Month

July–August

Places

Vrindavan, Mathura, Barsana, Nandgaon, Nathdwara, Pushtimarg havelis of Gujarat