In the city of Baldev, Lord Rama came out dressed like a groom on Sunday night. The slogans for Lord Krishna and Rama too made the environment devotional. The tableau remained the center of attraction in the Shoba Yatra of Lord Rama. Devotees were eager to get a glimpse of Lord, during the shobha yatra.

Lord Rama came out on his chariot from the Dauji Gaushala and reached the garden at Jawahar Road Temple via Moti Bazar, Shiv Ratna Bazar, Gandhi road, Mela road, Kailash road, Holi road, Nivari road, and old post office. The aarti was conducted by Mr. Shobha Ram (National Incharge of All India Saubharey Brahman Association) and Mr. R. K. Pandey (Temple Receiver). The national president of the association, Mr. Hemant Pandey did a welcome of Lord Rama.

 Baba belongs to Rajpur khadar and was returning back to Vrindavan after attending a cultural program at Modinagar on Tuesday, in his Innova car. He was accompanied by his decsiples Vishnu Babra, Mohini Sharan and few more.

After the car crossed the road to Vrindavan, the driver felt aleepy and in this condition rammed into a truck, approximately 15 kilometers from the Vrindavan road, near Dauji Temple. People passing by admitted them into the hospital. Baba Rasika Pagal suffered injuries on his head and legs, but is not in danger, as told by the doctors.

Recently at Sandipani Muni School (SMS), Vrindavan, the Principals in collaboration with several teachers and the students from various classes organized a program of legal awareness by the name of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Translated from the Hindi means “Save your daughters and educate them”). They had a similar program in 2014, aimed at informing young girls about the still present issues of child marriage, the protection of women, the importance of education and general advice in case any of these issues are there to be confronted. SMS Management invited several guests from different Government organizations and local legal entities.

Such cases are becoming rarer nowadays due to these programs taking place and due to the level of education and support available to these girls. Sandipani Muni School and Food for Life Vrindavan have always been and will always be at the forefront of dealing with the protection of women and girls in particular.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday wrote a letter to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, seeking a modern rail bus service in Mathura-Vrindavan on a priority basis. Mr. Yadav said the Mathura-Vrindavan rail bus service will solve traffic problems there and upgrade tourism potential of the temple town to international standards. The Chief Minister suggested that Mathura railway station and nearby vacant land of the Railways be developed in keeping with the religious significance of the town.

Devotees from the round the country worshiped the holy river of Yamuna on Monday and started the 84 Kos Parikrama (the full circuit) of Braja. Srimad Bhagavata speaker Acharya Raju Bhaiya is conducting the parikrama. Acharyaji told newspaper correspondents that the dust of Braja, Giri Govardhan and the Yamuna River have been essential elements of Braja’s identity since the time Krishna lived here.

With this, the parikrama season has started. Although there are Parikramas in all months of the year, many are held during the summer months, peaking at around Janmashtami, which this year falls on August 25^th. Mridul Kant Shastri, Purushottam Shastri, Vinay Shukla, Shri Ram Shastri, Ram Avtar Agarwal, Sanjay Sharma, Maatu Sharma, Ganga Swaroop Sharma, Mahesh Bhardwaj, Suresh Chandra Sharma, Pooran Kishor Sharma, Vijay Kishor Mishra among others were present on this occasion.

The heat is rising and we are almost at summer temperatures in the high 40’s. With news that this year is setting out to be the hottest in history at a rate of increase as yet unseen, it is hard not to feel a bit intimidated. With the coming of summer people do many things to get a bit of relief from the heat.

In Braj, Kamada Ekadashi is known as Fuldol (“flower swing”) Ekadashi. It falls on the bright fortnight of Chaitra month, but the “flower palaces” will go on being built throughout the hot season until Shravan Amavasya, also known as Hariyali Amavasya, which this year falls on August 2nd. The Utsav is thus celebrated for exactly 108 days.

The atmosphere was electric with the eagerness to see Banke Bihari in the first flower dress and decoration of the year.  There was no beating the crowds, for this is one of the most coveted darshans of the year. When the doors finally opened, the people rushed in and the temple became packed so quickly that it was just as difficult to get out as it had been to get in.

Thakurji is adorned with leaves and flowers, and especially banyan leaves are included in the garlands and other types of flower ornaments. Swami Haridas, who manifested Bankebihariji to the world, served him through the method of spontaneous love. In the chilliest part of the winter, he would provide his beloved Lord with warm clothes and a charcoal fire to protect him from the cold, and similarly to give him relief in the summertime, he would bring leaves and flowers and create a cooling environment and a flower swing to enjoy the refreshing breeze.

Those who celebrate this day in a special way start by doing the Panchkosi Parikrama around the holy city and then go for darshan to the different temples. But to finally fulfill their heart’s desire and get darshan of Bihariji seated on a flowered throne, they have to wait until evening time. Phool Bangla is the decorated home to seat Lord Bihariji. Phool Bangla is a very beautiful festive occasion as every devotee wants to see at least once in their lifetime.