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The
celebration generally consists of bhajan, kirtan, chanting of holy mantras,
and preparation of ‘jhoolan’ or swing, where the idol of lord Krishna
and His beloved Radha is kept and worshiped in the evening. Preparation of sweets
and traditional goodies, dressing up small children the same way lord Krishna
did in His childhood days, etc., are some of the other important aspects of
this festival. However, what attracts the pilgrims most is the raasleelas a
kind of folk theatre that narrates the various aspects of Krishna’s life.
Every year, with the onset of the rainy season, the raasleelas begin. Under
a huge canopy, a vast crowd (men on one side and women on the other) sits in
rapt attention, watching the events unfold on the stage. Raasleelas are held
in every corner of the city, particularly in Brindavan. Some are staged by troupes
that have been around for 50 years; some are not so old; but all of them are
put up with great love and devotion by the actors and musicians, and are watched
by an equally devout audience. In fact, while watching the raasleelas the audience
periodically breaks out into the resounding cry, Krishna bhagwan ki jai! (Hail
Lord Krishna). |
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The
raasleelas are always put up on a stage blazing with light and color. Huge sheets
of silk in bright colors (red, blue, yellow) embellished with sequins and gold
work form the backdrop. The raasleelas are usually in Brajbhasha, the dialect
of the region, but once in a way, the actors improvise and break into Hindi.
The musicians sit in one corner of the stage, singing with the barest accompaniment
just a harmonium and a tabla. The most interesting aspect of the raasleelas
is the fact that Krishna is always played by a young boy, never a grown up man,
and when the show ends, the people quietly queue up to go onstage and offer
their prayers to Lord Krishna. Reverentially, they touch the little boy’s
feet, and drop their offerings in a big urn placed next to him. For the devotees,
the young boy playing Krishna is not human at that time He is a manifestation
of Lord himself. |
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Many
devotees observe fast for the whole day and partake food only after Krishna's
birth. In temples "Bhajans" - recitation of devotional songs and "Kirtans"
- religious discourses - start early in the evening and continue till midnight
- the hour of the Lord's birth. Singing and music continue throughout the night.
The following morning "NAND-MAHOTSAV" is celebrated in praise and
gratitude to Nand, the ruler of the cowherds of Nandgaon where Krishna grew
up and lived in his childhood. The day is also celebrated as "Gopal-Kala"
or Dahi-Kala". Krishna loved milk products and would steal butter &
curds from the earthen pots hanged high in the houses. Hence in this Dahi-Kala
his childhood pranks of stealing are re-created by youngsters who call themselves
"Govindas" and "Gopalas" and move about in streets. Earthen
pots filled with milk curds, and rice flakes along with silver coins are hung
up very high in streets and boys climbing upon each other form themselves into
a pyramid to reach up to the pot and break it with shouts of joy. The coins
are equally distributed. The superstition exists that, if the broken pieces
of the pot is kept in house, mice do not enter and damage things. |
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Krishna's
life is so enthralling and magnificent that poets like Surdas and Nandadas and
even the Muslim Poets Rakshan Rahim, Alam, Miya Nazir were inspired to compose
poems on the many-sided splendour of his individuality. It is a historical fact
that Maharani Meerabai of Mewar not only wrote poems in his praise but discarded
her royal status and devoted her entire life in Krishna's service, singing in
temples and even on streets. In modern times the renowned Hindi poetess the
late Mahadevi Varma and poet Maithilisharan Gupta composed poems on Krishna. |
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On
this day Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Puri, Dwarka and Barsana resound with prayers
in praise of Lord Krishna. At Mathura, devotees after a holy bath in Yamuna
river go to the temple of Dwarkadhish for darshan. "Pancharti" is
performed in the evening and in the evening in a gracefully adorned palanquin
Krishna's idol is taken out in a procession which ends in the temple courtyard.
Exactly at 12 midnight Krishna's birth is announced amongst loud cheers. All
the delicious sweets that the women prepare are placed before the idol. With
closed eyes people pray to him to taste the sweets. This is the complete pouring-in
of man's faith and dedication to his adored deity. In Mathura and its surrounding
places "Jhankis"- glimpses of Krishna's childhood adventures like
"Kaliya-mardan", Kansa-Vadha", uplifting of govardhan parvat
are presented in brilliant colours. Thus Gokulashtami is celebrated all over
the country. |
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