2025.10.23 (Vrindavan Today News ): At the break of dawn on Thursday, the holy banks of the Yamuna awakened to an ocean of devotion. The day of Yam Dwitiya, or Bhai Dooj, had arrived — a festival where love, faith, and divine tradition merge in the sacred waters of the river that once flowed in the lilas of Lord Krishna.
From the steps of Vishram Ghat to the serene waters of Keshi Ghat in Vrindavan, brothers and sisters clasped hands and stepped into the river together, their hearts filled with affection and reverence. The chants of “Radhe Krishna” and “Yamuna Maiya ki Jai” resonated across the ghats as sisters lovingly applied tilak on their brothers’ foreheads, praying for their long lives and protection from untimely death.
According to the ancient belief, whoever bathes with their sibling in the Yamuna on this day is freed from the “Yam Fansa” — the noose of Yama, the god of death. It is said that such a ritual not only ensures longevity but also liberation from the fear of mortality itself.
Pilgrims from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, and many other states had gathered since early morning, transforming the ghats into a vibrant canvas of color and devotion. After the holy dip, they offered prayers to Maa Yamuna and Dharmaraj Yama at the shrines that grace the riverfront. Priests guided the rituals with traditional chants, incense, and offerings of flowers.
At Vishram Ghat in Mathura, stands a temple unlike any other in the world — the Shri Yamuna-Dharmaraj Temple, where the divine siblings Yamraj and Yamuna are worshipped together. Yamuna Devi presides in her beautiful four-armed form, while Yama stands beside her with a gesture of blessing. Also enshrined is Chitragupta, the celestial scribe of human deeds.
The temple’s sevayat, Ranjana S. Chaturvedi, shared the legend behind this day. “On Bhai Dooj, Yamraj once came to visit his sister Yamuna here in Mathura,” she said. “She welcomed him with great affection and served him fifty-six delicacies. Pleased, Yama blessed her and declared that any brother who eats at his sister’s home after taking bathe in the Yamuna, and worshipping Yamuna and Yama on this day will never face untimely death.” This story, recorded in the Puranas, forms the spiritual essence of the festival — that love between siblings can transcend even death.
Amidst the divine atmosphere, the city authorities managed large crowds with the help of lifeguards, divers, and police officers. Mayor Vinod Agarwal, along with Additional Municipal Commissioner Anil Kumar, personally reviewed the arrangements. Yet, the rush of pilgrims was so overwhelming that some ghats remained slippery due to silt, causing devotees to slip and fall. The Mayor admitted the shortcomings and assured a detailed inquiry.
At Vrindavan’s Keshi Ghat, too, brothers and sisters came from dawn to bathe in the sacred stream. The Shri Mathur Chaturved Parishad set up a Lost and Found Camp, successfully reuniting nearly seventy-five devotees with their families — a touching act of service amid the spiritual tide.
Not everything went smoothly, however. A dispute flared between boatmen and police after boating was restricted for safety reasons. The boatmen, who depend on such festivals for livelihood, protested and temporarily pulled back their boats. Yet, their absence could not dim the radiance of the day.
Even when one devotee fainted near the ghat and medical aid arrived late, faith remained unbroken. People continued to chant, pray, and dip — immersed not just in the Yamuna’s waters, but in her eternal grace.
As the sun rose high over the shimmering river, the ghats of Mathura seemed to glow with a golden light — the light of love, devotion, and divine promise. Bhai Dooj, once again, became not merely a ritual, but a celebration of the most sacred human bond — that between a brother and sister, blessed forever by Yamuna Maiya.
