Jhulan Yatra or the Divine Swing Festival is celebrated in the month of Shravana (July – August) commemorating the pastimes of Lord Shri Krishna with His eternal consort Srimati Radha, enjoying joyful childhood pastimes with His friends, the young cowherd boys and girls, swinging underneath the Kadamba trees. In the month of Shravana the atmosphere is vibrant with heavy showers and the entire natural setting is decorated with beautiful flowers blooming all around. In this jubiliant mood, the devotees celebrate the divine pastimes of Lord Krishna. This is one of the most beautiful, visually and spiritually satisfying festivals as the swings are elegantly decorated with green forest creepers, streamers of colourful garlands and jasmine or malati flowers which have blossomed newly in the season. Fine rose water spray is also directed towards the Divine Couple of Radha and Krishna on the swing.
Genesis of this Divine Festival
Among different festivals arranged in Vrindavan, the favorite festival of Lord Krishna is Jhulan Yatra. During the Yatra, Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani meet in Vrindavan's sylvan woods, where the gopis or sakhis have arranged a fascinating swing designed with flowers, which hangs from the branches of a Kadamba tree. The stretched golden ropes are tangled with madhavi and jasmine creepers and several colourful fragrant flowers. Lord Krishna and Radharani are seated on the swing. Then the sakhis spread the flowers on the Divine Couple and aarti is performed for the God and Goddess. The sakhis also serve garlands, sweet scented betel and also spray cool rose-water. After that two manjaris or celestial damsels smoothly start lovingly pushing the swing. The heavenly goddesses observe the glorious Jhulan Yatra of Sri Radha Govinda and admire their respective good fortune. They modestly contribute to the celebration of the festival by respectfully showering heavenly flowers over the youthful couple. Then the clouds also shower an excellent spray of cool and misty rain over the forest. In order to please the Lord Krishna and Radharani, the sakhis sing melodious jhulan songs.
Sacred Offerings
Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, instructed his disciples to celebrate the Swing Festival for five days with Prasadam Distribution and Sankirtana. In one of his letters Srila Prabhupada wrote: Regarding Jhulana-yatra Ceremony, during these five days the Deities’ clothing should be changed every day, and there should be nice Prasadam distribution and Sankirtana as far as possible. If you are able to do it, a nice throne may be constructed on which the Deities can be placed. This throne may be swung gently during Kirtana. That will be very good, and surely the Deities will enjoy the function.
Deeper Meaning
The Supreme Lord is Self-satisfied; He doesn’t need anything beyond Himself for His pleasure. But the Lord, being the loving father of all living entities, very munificently accepts and reciprocates with the services offered by His devotees however insignificant they may be. Revered scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam mentions that the natural position of a living entity is to engage his senses for the pleasure of the Lord. And by doing so, not only does he give the Lord pleasure, but he also derives the ultimate pleasure. Such pleasure is incomparable to any kind of pleasures offered by the material facilities of this mortal world. Thus sacred swing festival opens the doors for us to access such unparalleled pleasure, hence bearing great significance in our spiritual lives. This festival is the heartfelt expression of gratitude and love by the devotees towards the Lord. The auspicious Jhulan yatra provides us opportunities to offer practical devotional services to the Lord who mercifully took the form of the worshipable Deity, thus invoking our eternal constitutional position of servitude unto Him.
As we swing the Lordships to and fro with pure love, They reciprocate by bestowing us with the breeze of Their unlimited blessings and showering us with countless opportunities to take pleasure in the devotional ecstacy of service, granting us the benefaction of transcendental bliss and thereby giving us the chance to experience the ultimate perfection of life.
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