In ISKCON Mayapura the devotees assemble for the preparation of Jhulan Yatra and Balaram Jayanti

[Translation from Hindi] By Lokanath Tiwari | Publish Date: 8/7/2019 3:07:53 PM: Republic Hindi: Between 11th and 15th August, ISKCON Mayapura devotees will be observing Sri Sri Radha-Madhava Jhulan Yatra Festival. Preparations for observing the festival are in full swing. The Jhulan Yatra festival begins from Putrada Ekadasi in the month of Savan (July/August) and is observed up to Lord Balarama’s Appearance. The heart of this festival is that after the Summer season, in the month of Savan, Sri Krishna meets all his friends and girlfriends at the river-side, in the pleasant night breeze, swings upon a swing and bestows bliss. The description of this festival is in many holy books that have been widely distributed.

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada instructed his disciples in the importance of observing the Jhulan Yatra with great opulence in ISKCON. Due to this, in at least 850 ISKCON temples, this festival is observed with great joy and gaiety. ISKCON Mayapura media spokesman Subrat Das said that in the spiritual headquarters of ISKCON local and foreign sannyasis, brahmacharis, devotee householders together have observed the Jhulan Yatra festivals.

From the 11th to 15th August every evening the murtis of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava ride in a flower-decorated palanquin near a nicely scented pond and swing on the jhulan. As in all other years, this year also many thousands of faithful come in order to grasp the rope for swinging Sri Sri Radha-Madhava. From the Chandrodaya Mandir up to the pond, all the roads are decorated in a very beautiful manner. The devotees assemble on the roads decorated With lights, rangolis, and many colorful flowers. During this festival, every evening there will be lamps (deepdaan), sweet harinam sankirtan, and mahaprasadam for about 30 thousand people.

On the 15th of August there will be the appearance day of the famous name of Dauji (elder brother), the older brother of Sri Krishna, Lord Balarama. On this day there will be a maha-abhishek and maha-arati. All together, devotees will listen to the pastimes of Lord Balaram and Lord Krishna in Vrindavan. Additionally, young devotees will present dance and drama.

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