The auspicious festival of Jhulan Yatra will be celebrated from 23rd to 28th August, beginning on Ekādaśī and concluding on Balarāma Pūrṇimā. Celebrated during the sacred month of Śrāvaṇa, Jhulan Yatra commemorates the childhood pastimes of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa as They joyfully swing beneath the flowering trees of Vṛndāvana, surrounded by Their beloved friends.

Following the instruction of Śrīla Prabhupāda, devotees in ISKCON observe this festival from Ekādaśī until Pūrṇimā. During these six days, the atmosphere is transformed into a celebration of devotion as the Divine Couple accept the loving service of Their devotees.

In Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur, Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava are beautifully adorned each day with exquisite dresses, ornaments, and fragrant flower garlands before being seated upon an elaborately decorated swing. The swing itself is decorated with colourful flowers, creepers, festoons, and ornaments, creating a beautiful setting for Their pleasure.

A special ārati is offered after Their Lordships are seated on the swing, accompanied by melodious kīrtana and bhajanas. Devotees patiently wait in long queues for the opportunity to gently pull the flower rope and personally swing Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava. Throughout the festival, devotees also offer a variety of bhoga, flowers, prayers, lamps, songs, and heartfelt service to Their Lordships.

Regarding this festival, Śrī Hari-bhakti-vilāsa explains:

"To please Śrī Hari, devotees hold numerous festivals on every occasion and continuously perform saṅkīrtana. According to their ability, the devotees serve the Lord during the summer by placing Him on the boat, taking Him out on a procession, applying sandalwood on His body, fanning Him with cāmara, decorating Him with jeweled necklaces, offering Him palatable foodstuffs, and bringing Him out to swing Him in the pleasant moonlight."

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami beautifully narrates one of the cherished pastimes associated with Jhulan Yatra.

During this time, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī goes to visit Her parents, King Vṛṣabhānu Mahārāja and Queen Kīrtidā, at Varṣāṇā. Her brother, Śrīdāma, is sent to bring Her home. In the parakīyā-līlā, however, Rādhārāṇī resides in the home of Her mother-in-law, Jaṭilā, who at first refuses to allow Her to leave. Longing to see Her parents, Rādhārāṇī pleads with Jaṭilā, who finally relents after receiving the gifts sent by Vṛṣabhānu Mahārāja, although she cautions Her to beware of "that black-faced boy of Nandagrāma, Kṛṣṇa."

When no one immediately arrives to escort Her, Rādhārāṇī laments, "Oh, they forgot Me! They forgot Me!" Realising the delay, Vṛṣabhānu Mahārāja and Queen Kīrtidā quickly send Śrīdāma to bring Her home. Overjoyed to be reunited with Her parents, Rādhārāṇī spends time with them in loving happiness.

Meanwhile, Kṛṣṇa, disguised so that He would not be recognised, finds Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī alone upon a swing and begins pushing it vigorously. Startled, She cries out, "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Save Me!" Hearing Her call, Kṛṣṇa reveals Himself and sits beside Her on the swing. Overwhelmed with relief, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī embraces Him. His Holiness Jayapataka Swami explains that this moment is especially dear to Śrī Kṛṣṇa because Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī embraces Him naturally and willingly, without His having to devise any playful trick.

For this reason, Jhulan Yatra is cherished as a festival celebrating the loving exchanges between Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Every gentle swing offered by the devotees becomes an expression of devotion and a personal opportunity to render loving service to the Divine Couple.

Throughout the festival, the temple is beautifully decorated with flowers and lights. The roads leading to the Jhulan area are illuminated brilliantly, creating the atmosphere of a grand celebration in honour of Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava. Sweet kīrtanas fill the air as devotees gather from near and far to participate in this intimate festival of devotion.

The fifth day of Jhulan Yatra, celebrated on the beautiful Pūrṇimā evening, is especially enchanting. Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava are seated upon a magnificent jewelled swing surrounded by flowers, fruits, and flowering creepers. Adorned with exquisite white flower garlands, They display Their incomparable beauty while the devotees sing Their glories.

Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī describes the Divine Couple in *Śrī Nikunja-rahasya-stava* (16):

Kanaka-jalada-gatrau nila-shonabja-netrau mrigamada-vara-bhalau malati-kunda-malau tarala-taruna-veshau nila-pitambareshau smara nibhrita-nikunje radhika-krishnacandrau (1)

"O mind, exclusively meditate on Śrīmatī Rādhikā and Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra. Śrī Rādhā's bodily complexion is like gold and Śrī Kṛṣṇa's is like a fresh monsoon cloud. Her eyes are like blue lotus flowers and His are like red lotuses. Their foreheads are decorated with musk tilaka. Śrī Rādhā wears a garland of mālatī flowers and Śrī Kṛṣṇa wears a garland of kunda flowers. Wonderfully adorned in Their youthful beauty, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī wears a blue dress while Śrī Kṛṣṇa wears yellow garments as They enjoy Their confidential pastimes within the secluded groves of Vṛndāvana."

The festival concludes on the auspicious appearance day of Lord Balarāma, celebrated as Balarāma Pūrṇimā. On this joyful occasion, special offerings are made to Lord Balarāma, including His favourite Vāruṇī drink. Devotees also celebrate with colourful festivities, the traditional breaking of clay pots filled with honey, jaggery, and sweets, and an evening procession of Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava upon Their beautifully decorated palanquin. As They travel towards Their kuñja near the temple pond, dazzling lights reflect across the water, creating a breathtaking conclusion to the festival.

Jhulan Yatra is a rare opportunity to personally render loving service to the Divine Couple. By gently swinging Their Lordships, offering flowers, bhoga, kīrtana, prayers, and seva, devotees pray to receive the causeless mercy of Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava and deepen their loving remembrance of the Lord.

Sponsor a Jhulan Yatra Seva

You are warmly invited to participate in the festival by sponsoring one of the special sevas offered to Their Lordships:

* Flower Abhiṣeka – ₹50,001
* Vāruṇī Offering for Lord Balarāma – ₹50,001
* Balarāma Haṇḍī – ₹30,001
* Fruit Decoration – ₹50,001

To sponsor a seva, please visit https://www.mayapur.com/festivals/Jhula-Balarama-Purnima or contact our Donor Services team:

Phone: +91 95934 00192
Email: [donorservices@mayapur.com]