Latest news with #BankeBihariTemple
News18
3 days ago
- General
- News18
Tamil Nadu: Thoothukudi celebrates Krishna Janmashtmi with bullock cart races
Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 16 (ANI): As the whole country celebrates Krishna Janmashtami, over 500 people in the Jambulingapuram village in Tamil Nadu's 'pearl city' Thoothukudi district celebrated the birth of Lord Krishna with bullock cart racing on Saturday. The races, divided into categories of small bullocks and 'poonjeettu' bullocks was held for the first time ever in the village, with 19 pairs of riders and animals participating in the race. The festival committee has also confirmed that the race will be an annual affair on every Krishna Janmashtami. The villagers also expressed happiness over the race, with the new spectacle attracting crowds of over 500 people, eager to watch the spectacle for the first time. At the end of the competition, prizes were given to the winning bullock cart and its Krishna's birthday falls on the Ashtami Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapad. Although the celebration takes place in different parts of the country, Mathura and Vrindavan hold a special significance. One being his birthplace, and one where he spent his childhood and did his baal flock to the Lord Krishna temples, especially the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan and the Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple in Mathura. The temples were decorated with flowers and crystal chandeliers, and the idol of Lord Krishna was decorated with colourful clothes and in January 2024, Vaippar village in Thoothukudi also held a bullock cart race on the 265th birth anniversary of Veerapandiya Kattabomman. The event is carried out in the village every year. Winners of the bullock cart races were showered with prizes of Rs 1 lakh cash, lambs, and LED TV. The event gathered a crowd who watched the Bullock cart race with interest. Many pairs of bullock carts from various parts of Tamil Nadu, like Nellai, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Theni, and Virudhunagar, became a part of this event at the Vaipar ECR (East Coast Road).The competition was held in 3 categories – big bullock cart, small bullock cart and poonjittu. Following this, the owners of the bullock carts and the drivers who won the competition were honoured with midnight, a special ritual is performed when the idol of Lord Krishna is bathed in milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, and water. During the Krishna Abhishek, bells are rung, conch shells are blown, and Vedic hymns are performed. (ANI)
India.com
5 days ago
- India.com
Follow Shri Krishna's Footsteps: 7 Iconic Places To Visit In Mathura–Vrindavan This Janmashtami
Some cities are born of stone and steel. Mathura and Vrindavan were born of stories. Every brick here hums with devotion. Every street corner carries the echo of a flute. And during Janmashtami, the birthplace of Lord Krishna becomes less of a place and more of an experience — vibrant, sacred, and timeless. Most pilgrims stick to the main temples. But what if Janmashtami is more than waiting in queues and taking darshan? What if it's about feeling the pulse of a city that's been celebrating the same birth for over 5,000 years? Let's step into the heart of Braj Bhoomi, where legends walk alongside you and faith smells like fresh marigolds. Why Janmashtami here feels different from anywhere else in India It's not just the rituals. It's the living memory. In Mathura, Janmashtami isn't an annual event. It's a return — to the stories your grandmother told, to the songs your parents sang, to the idea that the divine once walked among us. The air feels charged — not with noise, but with anticipation. Devotees sing bhajans in narrow lanes. Shopkeepers decorate their stalls with butter pots and tiny cradles. The Yamuna glitters as if she too is waiting for midnight. Here, Janmashtami is not a show you watch. It's a story you step into. Tired of just temple-hopping? These places will complete your Janmashtami 1. Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple : The Epicenter of It All If Mathura were a body, this would be its heartbeat. This temple marks the very spot where Krishna was born, and on Janmashtami night, the energy is devotional music, flower garlands everywhere, and the famous jhanki scenes depicting Krishna's Arrive early in the day, as crowds swell by evening. 2. Dwarkadhish Temple : Where Colors Dance Built in 1814, this temple is a riot of color and sculpture. During Janmashtami, its courtyard becomes a living stage for devotional performances and traditional up at the ceiling — the paintings are as much a prayer as the chants Try the early morning mangala aarti. It feels like a sunrise in your soul. 3. Banke Bihari Temple : Vrindavan's Crown Jewel Here, Krishna isn't just worshipped. He's adored like a beloved child. The deity's curtains open and close every few minutes, as if he's playing peek-a-boo with his Janmashtami, this playful energy fills every inch of the temple, spilling into the streets of Wear comfortable clothes. The crowd moves like a river — and you'll move with it. 4. Prem Mandir : The Temple That Glows By day, it's stunning white marble carved with scenes from Krishna's life. By night, it's a symphony of Janmashtami, the temple becomes a canvas for devotion — lit up in shifting colors while bhajans echo in the Visit after sunset for the full magic. 5. Yamuna Ghat : Where Water Remembers The Yamuna isn't just a river here. She's a witness. To Krishna's childhood games, to centuries of festivals, to countless offerings made with folded Janmashtami, the ghats glow with oil lamps floating downstream. The air smells of jasmine and Take an early morning boat ride to see the ghats come alive. 6. Govardhan Hill : A Pilgrim's Circle A short drive from Mathura, Govardhan Hill is linked to the legend of Krishna lifting it to protect villagers from torrential Janmashtami, devotees walk the 21-km parikrama around it, chanting and If you can't walk the full route, try a shorter section — the energy is just as powerful. 7. Nidhivan : Where Stories Sleep in the Trees Nidhivan is not like other gardens. Locals believe Krishna and Radha still dance here every night, and the area is closed to visitors after Janmashtami, the belief feels almost tangible. The twisted trees seem to lean in, as if whispering Visit in daylight, but listen to the guide's stories — they linger long after you leave. Why visit during Janmashtami? Isn't it too crowded? Let's flip that. The crowd isn't a drawback — it's part of the experience. Every voice chanting, every hand offering flowers, every eye waiting for midnight — they're all threads in the same tapestry. Here's what Janmashtami in Mathura–Vrindavan gives you that any other time can't: Living traditions – You don't just hear the stories, you watch them unfold in processions, plays, and rituals. Collective joy – Strangers become companions in devotion. A different sense of time – Hours pass like minutes when you're caught in the rhythm of bhajans and bells. Practical tips for your Janmashtami trip Plan your travel earlyHotels fill up fast. Book months in advance. Dress with respect and comfortLoose cotton clothes, a scarf or dupatta, and shoes you can remove easily. Stay hydrated and eat lightStreet food is tempting, but pace yourself. Try local delicacies like mathri and pedas. Be mindful of crowdsKeep valuables secure. Move with the flow, not against it. Carry small offeringsFlowers, fruits, or sweets — the simplest gifts carry the most meaning. The hidden economy of devotion When you visit during Janmashtami, your presence supports more than just the big temples. You help the local ecosystem thrive — from flower sellers and mithaiwalas to boatmen at the ghats and artisans making clay idols. Every rupee spent here keeps centuries-old crafts alive. Every shared meal at a local dhaba keeps the community spirit strong. Final thought Janmashtami in Mathura–Vrindavan is more than a festival—it's a living story of faith, joy, and devotion. It's not about seeing but feeling. When the city lights up and the midnight aarti begins, you don't just witness a celebration—you become part of it. Go not for photos or checklists, but for the memory you'll carry forever—the moment you felt the true heartbeat of Janmashtami.
NDTV
7 days ago
- NDTV
Visiting Mathura, Vrindavan This Janmashtami? 7 Street Foods Not To Miss There
Janmashtami is a popular Hindu festival celebrated with great enthusiasm in many parts of India. However, the Janmashtami celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan have a different charm, which is perhaps why devotees of Shri Krishna travel there to celebrate his birthday. The idols of Radha Krishna in the Banke Bihari Temple of Mathura and the Prem Mandir of Vrindavan are specially decorated for this occasion. Their stories and childhood leelas are narrated to devotees. Young children dress up as Shri Krishna and Radha to perform these leelas. Bhajan and kirtan are organised in the temples. The grandeur of Mathura and Vrindavan attracts devotees of Shri Krishna during Janmashtami. If you are also planning to visit Mathura and Vrindavan for Janmashtami, then you should know that apart from the temples, these cities are known for their delicious popular dishes. Your trip would be incomplete without trying them. The street food and dishes available here are famous all over the world, so you should definitely taste them too. Here are some of the delicious dishes available in Mathura and Vrindavan. 7 Street Foods To Try In Mathura-Vrindavan During Janmashtami 2025: Kachori Aloo ki Sabzi Kachori Aloo ki Sabzi is a popular street food combination in Vrindavan. Crispy, deep-fried kachori stuffed with a spicy urad dal filling is served with a spicy potato sabzi. To enhance the flavour, a sour green chutney is added on top, which doubles its taste. In Vrindavan, it is usually eaten for breakfast in the morning. Khasta Bedai Bedai is another local dish that attracts tourists. This crunchy bedai is different from kachori. A spicy urad dal filling is stuffed inside wheat flour dough, rolled like a puri, fried in oil and served with black potato sabzi. Tomatoes are not used in this potato sabzi. In Agra, it is eaten with pumpkin sabzi. Samosa You should not miss the delicious samosas available in Vrindavan. Crispy and golden on the outside, they are prepared with a spicy potato filling on the inside. Garlic and onion are not used in these samosas, yet you will find them very flavourful. The street vendors here serve them with tamarind chutney. Aloo Tikki In Mathura and Vrindavan, you will find street vendors on every corner, and you will never forget the taste of the Aloo Tikki available here. The tikki, prepared with boiled potatoes and mild spices, is fried until crispy and then served with hot chole. Peda The pedas of Mathura and Vrindavan are very famous. The pedas here are made from homemade milk and ghee. Ghee comes from the cow shelters of local people, which they use to make the pedas. You can find Mathura Peda, Dudh Peda and Vrindavan Peda in many varieties in shops. These are offered as prasad in the temple, and people who visit buy them. Rabri Rabri is a milk dessert found in every sweet shop in Vrindavan. To make this creamy rabri, milk is cooked with saffron, sugar, and cardamom flavour until it thickens. Here, the confectioners serve rabri in earthen pots, garnished with dried fruits. Lassi The taste of the lassi available in the streets of Vrindavan is very amazing. You will feel refreshed after drinking a glass of lassi. In the summer season, you get many other varieties here apart from the classic lassi. So this Janmashtami, do not forget to visit Mathura and Vrindavan and enjoy these delicious street foods.
Indian Express
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Banke Bihari Temple case: Supreme Court says will pass orders setting up former HC judge-led committee
The Supreme Court Friday told petitioners who have challenged the Uttar Pradesh Ordinance which put in place a trust to manage the affairs of the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, that it will soon pass orders constituting an interim committee headed by a former judge of the Allahabad High Court for managing the shrine's affairs until that court decides the Ordinance's constitutional validity. The bench, also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi, said the committee will include some government officials as well as representatives of the shrine's traditional caretakers, and will oversee improving the facilities. 'We will infuse some officials in the Committee. Some of you also. We are broadly telling you. We will authorise the Chairman of the Committee to have some Goswamis also… the Committee will see to developmental activities in the area,' Justice Kant added. The court said that until the Allahabad High Court decides the matter, the committee proposed under the Ordinance will be kept in abeyance. The bench also said it will set aside the directions in the May 25 order allowing the UP Government to use the Banke Bihari Temple funds for buying land around it for a proposed corridor project. Appearing for the UP government, Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj pointed out that some parallel proceedings are ongoing before the high court in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), and the HC had appointed amicus curiae in the matter and also passed some orders. The SC then stayed the high court single-judge order and asked the HC Chief Justice to assign it to a division bench, saying that matters pertaining to the constitutionality of statutes are generally heard by division benches.
India Today
05-08-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Lord Krishna was first mediator...: Top court raps UP Govt in Banke Bihari Temple case
During the ongoing hearing in the Banke Bihari Temple case on Monday, the Supreme Court remarked that Lord Krishna was also a mediator. The top court's observation came while it was contemplating an interim committee to look after the management of the iconic Shri Banke Bihari temple at Vrindavan, in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh.'When you talk about mediation, he was the first mediator available. So we also try to mediate,' Justice Surya Kant is an area of extraordinary importance. We don't want to exclude anyone,' the bench said, while granting time to counsel for Uttar Pradesh to seek instructions regarding the interim arrangement. The court also called out the Uttar Pradesh government for the manner in which the state secured an order impacting the management of the Banke Bihari temple without the court hearing its current representatives.'We don't expect the state to do this. You went behind their backs without even giving notice,' the court top court was hearing petitions filed by the temple priests challenging the Banke Bihari Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, and also seeking modification of the Supreme Court's earlier order permitting the Uttar Pradesh government to utilise funds for the Shri Banke Bihari Temple in is not the first time the government has been questioned by the top court. In May, when this case was heard by a different bench, Justice B.V. Nagarathna questioned why the state decided to "hijack" a litigation between two private Conduct, Alleges PetitionerSenior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioners, alleged that the state had 'sneaked in' and obtained a court order — originally related to another temple — without notice to the Banke Bihari temple's existing management. The court, he claimed, had no opportunity to hear the temple management before the May 15 order was passed, which was now being used to justify the the move 'startling,' Divan argued that the Banke Bihari temple is a private temple, and the state had no right to interfere without proper legal Questions State's ApproachThe ASG, representing the UP government, contended that the temple was not private, and those objecting to the ordinance were unauthorised persons. But the Court was not convinced.'Show us where this court ever intended to hear a temple representative? Why was there no public notice? We don't expect the state to move in this manner; the state should have informed,' the bench an example of how initiatives have been taken around the Golden Temple, the court added: 'Such initiatives can be taken at times instead of using legislative or executive power. You think people will say no if you speak to them? Instead, you went behind their backs.'advertisementThe court repeatedly asked the state: 'What stopped you from acquiring the land legally and paying compensation?'The court, however, clarified that the temple funds will have to be utilised for development and can't be pocketed by private persons in the name of a private Committee LikelyIn light of the controversy, the Supreme Court said it is inclined to form an interim management committee headed by a retired High Court judge. The local collector may also be included in the panel would oversee day-to-day temple affairs until the High Court decides on the validity of the ordinance.'Religious tourism is important. Heritage must be maintained. But there must be an ecosystem where pilgrims feel a sense of order, not mismanagement,' the court state has been directed to take instructions and revert. The bench clarified that the ordinance can be challenged under Article 226 before the High Court but stressed that, in the meantime, a balanced interim arrangement may be necessary.- EndsTune InMust Watch
