Festivals in Fall, Sravana
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
Fall
After this comes the Jhulan Yatra festival. Starting on the Ekadasi of waxing moon of Sridhara month, many temples in Vrndavan celebrate Krsna's swing festival, some for one day, others for more days. Traditionally many of the Deities of the Lord wear various clothing with green in it over this period until the Balarama Purnima. Again it is a practical festive service that the devotees provide for the Lord. Monsoon is so humid, and the temperature is still so hot despite the cooling rains. With so much water coming from the sky, on the ground, and just about everywhere the last thing that anyone wants is more water to cool off. The opulence at this time is to find a breeze, as the air is heavy with the humidity of the rains. So the devotees arrange for the pleasure and satisfaction of Krsna and Srimati Radharani by placing them on a swing (Jhulan) and creating their own breeze from the motion.
It is a most pleasing and satisfying festival, with the swings often highly decorated with forest creepers, Jasmine (Malati) that has newly blossomed in the season, and streamers of garlands. Sometimes they use a fine spray of rose water and direct it toward the Divine couple of Radha and Krishna on the swing.
On the last day of the Jhulan, on the Purnima (full moon) this comes Lord Balaram's appearance day festival.
Jhulan references: "Regarding Jhulan yatra Ceremony, during these five days the Deities' clothing should be changed everyday, and there should be nice Prasadam distribution and Sankirtana as far as possible. If you are able to do it, a nice throne may be constructed on which the Deities can be placed. This throne may be swung gently during Kirtan. That will be very good, and surely the Deities will enjoy the function." (Srila Prabhupada. 1-Aug-1969)
"So we have to practice this Krsna consciousness. Here, in this material world, we have to work. Without work, you cannot maintain even your family, your body. That is not possible. Sarira-yatrapi te na prasiddhyed akarmana. Krsna says (to) Arjuna that without karma you cannot maintain even your body. So you have to work. Sarira-yatrapi te na prasiddhyed akarmana. And this material world means you have to maintain by working. And spiritual world means na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. There is nothing to work, as Krsna has nothing to work. He is simply enjoying What is called? Swing. So Krsna is enjoying, and Krsna's associates are enjoying. They have nothing to work. That is spiritual world. Cintamani prakara sadmasu kalpa vrksa: that is a different world. There is no material body. Therefore there is no need of the material body. That is a different world. But in this material world we have to work. Trtiya-karma-samjanya avidya-karma-samjanya trtiya aktir isyate. This material world means you have to work and adjust things for your maintenance. That you cannot escape. But still, we have to become Krsna conscious" (Srila Prabhupada. 10-Aug-1976. Srimad Bhagavatam class 3.22.21. Tehran, Iran.)
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