2025.07.28 (Vrindavan Today News): The spirit of devotion, divine beauty, and cultural festivity united in a magnificent celebration as the Jhulan Yatra commenced with great fervor on the auspicious occasion of Hariyali Teej. Devotees from across India and beyond gathered to witness the divine swing festival of Shri Laadli Lal ju, as they graced the golden swing (Svarna Hindola) in the sanctum of the revered Radha Rani Temple.
From the early hours of Sunday, the temple premises echoed with the vibrant chants of “Radhe Radhe” and “Jai Shri Krishna,” creating an atmosphere soaked in bhakti-rasa. At 8 AM, the temple priests ceremonially brought the deities of Radha and Krishna out from the sanctum sanctorum and enshrined them on an ornately adorned golden swing in the Jagmohan courtyard. Clad in resplendent green attire to mark the monsoon season and the verdant symbolism of Hariyali Teej, the divine couple captivated every heart present.
Every evening during the 13-day Jhulan Mahotsav, Radha Rani will offer darshan on the golden swing, with special double darshan timings on the day of Raksha Bandhan. This extended period of festivities is a spiritual highlight of the Braj region’s calendar and draws thousands of pilgrims each year.
The devotion extended far beyond the main temple. Throughout the sacred town of Barsana — from the lanes of Daan-Garhi and Vilasgarh to the serene precincts of the Maan Mandir, Gahvarvan, and Shyama Shyam Mandir, the deities of the divine couple were placed on swings and lovingly rocked by the devotees. The mood of joyful service and surrender was omnipresent.
Atop the revered Brahmanchal Hill, where the Radha Rani temple majestically stands, a special moment unfolded at the Shwet Chhatri, a stunning white marble canopy that becomes the focal point of divine procession each Teej evening. During a solemn yet jubilant procession, Radha Rani’s deity was ceremoniously taken from the sanctum to this sacred pavilion, accompanied by soulful kirtans and musical offerings. As the divine form of Ladli ji was enshrined under the white canopy, a female priest performed aarti, and devotees basked in the grace flowing from her divine presence.
By 7:30 PM, the procession returned to the sanctum, where Radha Rani continued to bestow her blessings upon the devotees until 9 PM.
As Vrishabhanu Nandini sways each evening in divine elegance, the Jhulan festival offers more than a visual spectacle. It offers an immersion into the timeless traditions of Braj, where divine love is not just remembered, but relived, in the swaying of swings, the singing of monsoon melodies, and the surrender of hearts at the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna.
With the sacred bond of Raksha Bandhan approaching, Barsana awaits the next crescendo in this symphony of devotion. Until then, the golden swing sways, Shri Radha smiles, and Braj continues to bloom.
