Bhakti Yoga in Vrindavan Dham: The Original Nightclub Crawl

Yesterday, especially last night was a very special day in the Dham; a big festival was held here- Chandan Yatra! Because this day marks the intense heat of summer, Radha and Krishna are cooled by chandan, sandalwood paste. It is placed on their bodies, covering them head to toe; it looks like they got a complete makeover! They are nearly beyond recognition! The chandan can be very detailed and beautiful; I liken it to the fondit decorating an elaborate wedding cake. Being the first time I had seen deities covered in chandan, I was really astonished at their transformation and how lovely they look.
     To celebrate this day, all the temples in Vraja prepare a feast for Radha-Krishna including cooling, flavorful drinks and snacks, like sweetened rosewater, limeade, fresh fruits and cucumbers. Afterward, we all get to honor prasada (eat their food remnants but trying to have an attitude of serving versus enjoying).
     The day was special, but the night was absolutely amazing! The streets were completely filled with crowds of people wandering temple to temple to have darshan (see the deities), and inside the temples was music, dancing, festivities, etc. Each temple had its own flavor, its own unique mood. Like in America and other places I'm sure, many of us have attended Club Crawls at night, going from one club to the next experiencing different music styles, visuals, atmosphere, fighting the crowds, etc. It was kind of like that, but this was centered around Radha-Krishna- it was for their pleasure; whereas club crawls are centered around... I guess our own enjoying spirit.
    I'd like to share the different darshans and a little bit about the atmospheres at each temple. At Krishna Balaram Mandir, the atmosphere was traditional Indian style, as Hindi bhajanas rang through the temple space. Some people were dancing for the deities, but mostly people sat and relaxed and took their darshan. (see pics below).

Radha Lalita Madhava at Krishna Balaram Mandir are decorated with chandan

Krishna Balaram Mandir has a traditional feel- Hindi bhajans, fairly low key

Rupa-Sanatana Temple had a totally different feel. Sri Krishna was the only deity cooled down with chandan (not Radharani or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu). So Krishna really stands out (see pic below). It was a club atmosphere inside. The bhajans actually had a techno-style beat. How it is possible, I don't know. But it led to a high energy crowd dancing, smiling and really feeling the beat!

Sri Krishna at Rupa-Sanatana Gaudiya Matha is decorated with chandan

Finally, I went to Radha-Damodar Temple see pics below). It was magnificent! It seemed to be the most popular place because it was shoulder to shoulder crowded, you had to push your way through the thick crowd to enter and exit the temple and to get close enough to see the deities. All the Radha-Krishna deities at Radha-Damodar Temple (there are four sets) were decorated in chandan. There was music playing- bhajanas colored with a hint of punk rock. Really. The ambiance was definitely like a music concert. People were throwing their hands in the air, there was a bit of a mash-pit in the front, there were even crazy fluorescent green drinks (non-alcoholic of course). The difference, however, is if a live band is on the stage at a music concert or club in America, then audience is enjoying the performance. But in Vrindavan Dham, actually when the curtains open, the deities are enjoying us. Vrajavasis have an attitude that I am dancing, singing, or standing in front of the deities for their pleasure,not mine. Actually, the deities are having darshan of me. It's a win-win!