Vrindavan, 2016.11.02 (VT): Devotion is the driving force of Vrindavan, which attracts the devotees from around the world. This temple town has witnessed spontaneous experience of ecstatic devotion in time to time. The journey which started 500 years back when Lord Chaitanya arrived in Vrindavan, continues even today in one form or other.
Vrindavan temples were enthralled by the enchanting folk dance of the tribal devotees, who came here on their annual visit. The devotees, both men and women performed various folk dances in front of the deities of the different temples. They danced, wearing traditional dresses holding the peacock feather in their hands.
They paid visit to the Sapta-devalya Temples, Rangji, Gopeshwar and other ancient temples. They performed the folk dance in every temple they visited. The musical instruments of mandar, dhol, kartal, sarangi and flute were used by them. The devotees visiting from the other states enjoyed their dance, while having darshan in these temples.
The tribal devotees have come in several group
s, who began the darshan after offering prayers to Yamuna.
Mahananda Soren from Dumka District of Jharkhand said, “I have been visiting Vrindavan for seven years during Diwali. We celebrate Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Yam Dwitiya with our Lord Shri Krishna in Vrindavan.”
The tradition of pilgrimage to Vrindavan during Diwali has been in practice for more than a century. They collect the peacock feather from the forests and fields while grazing the cattle. They accumulate it for their annual pilgrimage to Krishna’s land. Peacock feather has devotional significance as Krishna adorned it on his crown.
They take the vow of silence (mauna vrata), when they begin the journey for the pilgrimage. They break the vow only after having darshan of the Lord in Vrindavan. Therefore the Vrajabasis call them ‘maunia’.
Vraja has been the centre of faith for the tribes of Jharkhand for centuries, since the time of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vrindavan. Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu passed through the dense forests of Jharkhand on his way to Vrindavan from Puri. It is said the wild animals of tiger, lion, elephant etc. danced in the tune of ‘mahamantra’ chanted by Mahaprabhu.
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