The onset of Shravan, now mainly remembered through alerts from cousins and friends in India, brings many memories, of childhood and of the joy in the simple festivities, especially Hindola.

The memory of being dressed up and going to the temple holding my mother’s hand is very distinct. The temple, Sanyas Ashram, in Vile Parle West, had always held a deep attraction for me, with its vast front yard, its pool with lotuses, and a big Bunyan tree and a Peepal tree. It perhaps offered a peek into wilderness and peace and quiet in the busy Mumbai suburb.

The multi deity temple had every god’s individual temples decorated differently, always surprising me with their novelty. Real life scenes were created around Krishna, with rivers and mountains and miniature cows and cowherds. To the child in me, this was the ultimate play.

Hindola or the Swing festival begins usually on the second or third day of the month of Shravan and continues till the second or third of the next month, celebrated predominantly in Gujarati temples.

Hindola is also celebrated in other parts of India including Bengal, Vrindavan, Mathura and in the International Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple in Mayapur, their styles of celebration differing from each other.

The Vaishnav Haweli temples of Gujaratis celebrate it with image of the child Krishna on a swing. The Srinathji Haweli celebrates it with the image of Srinathji. The Jhulan Yatra and Jhulan Purnima of Bengal Gaudiya Vaishnavs are celebrated with both Radha and Krishna on the swing. In Vrindavan and Mathura, the major temples devoted to Krishna, celebrate it with the couple image of Radha and Krishna. And the ISKCON temples celebrate it with a life size swing on which sit Radha and Krishna, brought to the courtyard. Devotees are allowed to pull the swing cord made of flowers.

Hindola festival is said to have begun in Vrindavan almost 5,000 years back, after the historical times of Krishna, simulating the real rocking of Krishna’s swing in the forests of Vrindavan.

Radha and Krishna on the swing has been the subject of many of the miniature paintings, especially the Kangra paintings. It is generally believed among devotees that it is rewarding to see Radha and Krishna together which is why they are worshipped as the yugal swaroop.

No matter where and for how long the festival is celebrated, Hindola scenes are decorated with real leaves and branches and peacock feathers and flowers. A real fountain is sometimes used to transform to river Yamuna. Many times, vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans and even chocolates have been used to create a more contemporary scene.

Among the Vaishnav Gaudiya followers of Sri Chaitanya in Bengal, Jhulan Yatra is celebrated with imaginary scenes of Krishna’s life in Vrindavan, based on descriptions in poet Jaidev’s Gita Govinda, the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, the Garga Samhita, the Bhagwat Purana or the Harivamsha or other Puranas. Jhulan Yatra consists of placing Krishna on a decorated swing, sandalwood paste applied to his forehead and arms, with offerings of special delicacies placed in front the couple. They are then taken out for a yatra or a procession, with music and dance.

In Vrindavan, Mathura and Mayapur, Jhulan Yatra festival begins on the third day of Shukla Paksh or first fortnight of the month of Shravan and ends on the Shravan Purnima or full moon. Decorated images of Radha and Krishna are placed on elaborate swings and worshipped with songs and dance.

ISKCON celebrates Jhulan Purnima for five days. In Mayapur, ISKCON’s global headquarters, the beautifully decorated images of Radha and Krishna are placed on beautifully decorated swings, and bhajans, kirtans and dancing in their praises. All visitors to the temple are allowed to pull the decorated chain and rock the divine couple. During the special arati, devotees can also feed delicacies to the couple, the five day festivities thus creating a joyous spiritual atmosphere.

At the Jagannath temple in Orissa, Krishna’s image on the swing is worshipped for a whole week ending on Purnima.

Pushtimargi Vaishnavas celebrated Hindola for 15 days, and now, for the whole month of Shravan. The decorations of the swing and the images of Radha and Krishna are thematic and are different each day. Music plays a big part in the Pushtimargi temples which are called Hawelis. Haweli Sangeet is based on Ragas. During Hindola, the devotional songs are based on Raga Hindola. Saint poets Premanand, Narasimh Mehta and Meera’s poem songs are the highlights of all Haweli Sangeet.

In the U.S., the BAPS Swaminarayan temples in New York and New Jersey, the Vraj Dham in Pennsylvania, and the Vaishnav Haweli in New York and Chicago and other cities celebrate Hindola festival. In Vraj and Chicago Hawelis, the images of Radha and Krishna are placed on the swing which can be rocked by the devotees. The swings are decorated with silver, gold, mirrors, fruits, vegetables, jasmine, roses, and green leaves. Bhajans in the Haweli Sangeet style are accompanied by showers of fresh flowers and gulal. The Raj Bhog made with dairy products, fruits and nuts is offered to the couple with prayers, followed by an arati.

Shiva is also worshipped during this time in Shravan, and devotees ask for boons from him. Shiva lings are decorated and created in different mediums, like ice, with the Ganga oozing out of his hair tied in a knot. Gujaratis fast on Shravan Mondays which are dedicated to Shiva and offer the dhatura flower or the moon flower to him. Part of the month of Shravan is also dedicated to a five-day fast by girls and women to find a husband like Shiva.

(Used under special arrangement with NIT)

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