This festival takes place in the month of Asadha (June-July). It is customary
to worship the spiritual master on this day, because it is the appearance
day of Vyasadeva. On this day many devotees gather at Manasi Ganga and
do Govardhana parikrama. Sanatana Gosvami left his body on Guru Purnima,
at Manasi Ganga, on the full moon day in the month of Asadha, in 1558.
This festival lasts for 13 days. It starts on the Tritya (third day) of
the bright fortnight of Sravana (July-Aug) and lasts until the full moon
night of the month. During this festival the Radha-Krishna Deities in
the temples are swung on a swing. This is one of the biggest festivals
of the year and Vrindavana is very crowded at this time. Often the swings
are gold and silver. Some of the main temples that this festival is celebrated
at are the Banke Bihari Temple and the Radha-Raman Temple in Vrindavana,
the Dwarkadish temple in Mathura, and the Larily Lal Temple in Varsana.
Two
days before Balarama's Appearance Day, during the Jhulan Yatra swing festival,
the Vasanti Kamara room in the Shahji Temple is open. The Deities in this
temple are brought to this room. This is a crowded event.
This festival
is in the month of Sravana (July-Aug). On this day Lord Balarama appeared
in Gokula.
This is
the day after Balarama's Appearance Day. Some of the special darshans
are: Madana Mohana Temple (Rairaja), Radha Damodara (Syama Sakhi), Syamasundara
(Naukar Bihar), Gokulananda (Raval Raja), Gopinatha (Van Bihar), and
Govindaji (Subal Vesh).
This celebrate
the appearance day of Lord Krishna in Mathura. It is celebrated in an
elaborate way in Vrindavana. Rasalila plays are performed, which shows
different pastimes of Lord Krishna. There is a huge arati at 12 midnight
in temples all over Vrindavana. Janmastami falls on the 8th
day of the dark half of the month of Bhadra (August/Sept).
This festival
is the day after Janmastami. This celebrates the birth celebration performed
by Nanda Maharaja after Krishna was born.
This is
the appearance day of Srila Prabhupada, who is the founder of the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness. This day falls on the same day as
Nandotsava. There is a festival held in the morning at the Krishna Balaram
Temple. This event is celebrated at some other temple in Vrindavana.
This festival
takes place on Nandotsava. A thirty foot wooden post is erected near
the front gate of the Ranganatha temple. The wooden post is lubricated
with mustard oil. Mustard oil is regularly poured down the post to make
it very slippery. People then try to climb to the top of the post.
This is
the swing festival at the Ranganatha temple. At night the temple tank
is lit up. This festival is on the 11th day of the month
of Bhadra (Aug-Sept).
There
is the swing festival on this day at Huncha Gaon. This day falls in
the month of Bhadra (Aug-Sep), two days before Radharani's appearance
day.
This is
the appearance day of Radharani. This festival falls on the
eighth day, of the bright fort-night in the month of Bhadra (August-Sept),
15 days after the appearance of Lord Krishna. There is an all night
kirtana held the night before Radhastami at the Larila Lal Temple in
Varsana, ending with an ecstatic mangala arati. Many people go to Varsana
on this day. This is also a popular day in Vrindavana.
This festival
is celebrated 20 days after Dussera. It celebrates the return of Lord
Rama to Ayodhya, after His victory over Ravana. This is celebrated by
burning lamps and candles in temples and homes and by fire-works. This
is a very important festival all over India.
On this night
Govardhana Hill is lit by thousands of lights. Especially lit up is
Manasi Ganga in the town of Govardhana.
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