Celebrated for a period of three days, Brij Mahotsav in Rajasthan is majorly observed in the Braj or Brij region of the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. This Mahotsav is held in the honour of Lord Krishna, its main attractions being multi-coloured attires, folk dances, along with traditional music. It won’t be wrong to say that the entire city of Bharatpur echoes with the sound of melodies on the occasion of this festival.
For the unversed, held in the Shukla Paksha of the Phalgun month of Hindu calendar, this festival is also celebrated in Vrindavan. In Vrindavan, this festival sees a thong of devotees dressed up in colourful attires singing, dancing and depicting Ras Leela of Lord Krishna. The Leela is a true depiction of the love between Radha and Lord Krishna.
History of Braj Mahotsav Bharatpur
The Braj Bhoomi is extremely famous as the birthplace of Lord Krishna. This is also considered as the very soil where Lord Krishna spent his childhood. And on the auspicious occasion of this festival, many artists come together for performing Ras Leela that essentially depicts the life of Lord Krishna. The Brij Festival in Bharatpur is a true blend of the historic ethos that sets India apart from the rest of the world.
It is considered as a very important place for people belonging to the Buddhists community. Yes, interesting to know, isn't it? It is believed that it was Lord Buddha himself who had preached and opened various monasteries in this particular place along with other nearby regions. Yes, there was a time when about 3,000 monks used to live in these 20 monasteries. However, later on, these temples were ravaged by Muslim invaders like Mahmud Ghazni and Sikander Lodi.
Major Attractions of Brij Mahotsav 2023 of Rajasthan
1. Raslila Dance. It is one of the most unique features of this event. This dance essentially depicts the pure bond of love between Radha and Lord Krishna. It is quite an experience to witness this event.
2. Colourful Costumes and Folk Songs. On the occasion of the Brij Festival, people can be seen wearing colourful costumes. On this day various villagers perform dances by playing various folk songs. And not just young people but the elderly also enjoy this festival to the core.
3. Sacred Dip in the Banganga River. The devotees take a dip at the ghats of the sacred Banganga river. It is believed that by doing so one gets to free himself from the entanglements of karma and boundless desires of life.
How to Reach Brij Mahotsav 2023
To enjoy Braj Festival in India and to witness it in its full glory, you need to visit the town of Bharatpur. You can reach here via flights, roadways and train. Here are the details regarding the same.
By Air. Bharatpur doesn't have its own airport. So, depending upon your location you can take a flight to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, Jaipur International Airport or Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Airport in Agra. However, the best option would be Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Airport as it is situated at a distance of only around 50-60 km from Bharatpur.
Flights like Air India, Indigo and Air Asia operate from these locations. But when it comes to international air connectivity, you will have to bank on the first two options i.e. Delhi and Jaipur airports. After you deboard at the airport, you can easily get a cab or a bus to cover the remaining distance and reach your respective destination.
By Road. Travelling via road to Bharatpur can be a trip to remember, isn't it? The city has very good road connectivity to nearby regions and other major Indian cities.
From regions like Fatehpur Sikri, you will need to cover an approximate distance of around 24 km, from Jaipur - 183 km, and from Alwar - 103 km. Some good road options for you to take would be NH21, Alwar-Bharatpur Road.
By Train. If you are planning to reach Bharatpur via train network then you will need to get off at Bharatpur Junction. This station is considered an important train station in WCR (West Central Railway) zone. This station is located on the Mathura-Kota section of the New Delhi-Mumbai main line. Another highlighting feature of this station is that all five of its platforms are electrified.
If you are travelling from Delhi, then you can board Nanda Devi Express from H. Nizamuddin station. Similarly, if you are in Ahmedabad, then zero in on JAM SVDK Express from Ahmedabad Junction.
After you deboard the train at this junction, you can take a cab or an auto to further reach your destination.
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here