This year, the Jhulan Yatra was special in so many ways. This was the first time the Jhulan Yatra being held outside the temple premises. It was open for everyone to see. The most attractive feature of the festival however, was the beautiful Vrndavana scene in which Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Madanmohan had Their swing pastime. The stage was gorgeously decorated by Bhakta Santiraan and other devotees. It looked just like the beautiful Vrndavana forest with trees, creepers, flowers, magnificient parrots of different colors, monkeys, a peacock (all artificial except the trees, some of which were also artificial) with the picture depicting Radha & Krishna in Their swing pastime as the backdrop. The swing was hung from a tree branch and magnificiently decorated with flowers. Their Lordships swung on a beautiful throne adorned with flowers atop the swing.
The view was so enchanting and breath-taking that there was a complete traffic jam every now and then. They were taking photographs from their cars and some became so enthused that they immediately parked their cars wherever they could and participated in the festival. The passers-by just could not take their eyes off the scene. They were spellbound!!
The kirtan, which could be heard from many lanes away, surcharged and purified the whole atmosphere and everyone was engulfed in festive joy.
The last day of the Jhulan Yatra coincided with the Balarama Jayanti. The killing of the demon Pralambasura by the kids was a most enjoyable experience. Crowds in the hundreds gathered to watch the show. It was very enlivening.
When the demon was finally "killed" by our heroic kids, everyone ran to grab the prasadam that fell out of the body of Pralambasura.
On all the five days, sumptuous prasadam was served to many hundreds. Everyone were really turned on after having their prasadam. Then there was a very impressive score of book sales.
This festival really boosted our image and preaching. So many new faces turned up and each and everyone were so impressed and moved that many of the newcomers enthusiastically came on all the five days.
All in all, it was a unique festival and Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Madanmohan were very merciful upon the conditioned souls by displaying the glory of Their ever-triumphant pastimes in the mundane world as stated in the Brahma-samhita (5.42):
ananda-cinmaya-rasatmataya manahsu
yah praninam pratiphalan smaratam upetya
lilayitena bhuvanani jayaty ajasram
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
Translation
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose glory ever triumphantly dominates the mundane world by the activity of His own pastimes, being reflected in the minds of recollecting souls as the transcendental entity of ever-blissful cognitive rasa.
We, at Sri Krishna Mandir, thank everyone for participating in all aspects of the festival and there are many more to come in the next one month. So, stay tuned! For a brochure on the upcoming festivals, please make a visit to our temple. Hare Krishna!!
