Culture & Heritage

Mathura culture

Mathura culture occupies a distinguished place in the Indian history and culture. Mathura is an active center of Brahmanism, Buddhism and Jainism for several decades in Uttar Pradesh. The art, religion, festivals comprise the culture of Mathura, which is famous worldwide. The culture in Mathura has culminated with all the major aspects such as history, society, epigraphy, religion, archeology, iconography, numismatics, art and sculpture. There are some cultural traditions in Mathura like the Sanjhee, which is the colorful art of decorating the ground with flowers. Raaslila is another predominant form of Mathura culture. The Bhagwat Purana says that Shri Krishna along with the gopis danced the Raas on the river bank of the Yamuna at Vrindavan.

Since then this dance is famous as Raaslila, only young Brahmin boys of 13 to 14 years of age can perform the Raaslila. The traditional folk dance of Braj is performed on the Dooj of Holi. A female dancer balances a row of lighted deepikas on her head while dancing. Usually the number of lamps ranges from 51 to108 in each performance. The Rasiya songs are the love songs of the divine couple Radha and Shri Krishna. These songs are compulsorily sung in Holi celebrations and all other festive occasions at Braj.

The Mathura culture is famous throughout India, particularly in the places, which consider Hinduism to be the main religion. Their rich tradition of folk songs are famous even in foreign lands.

Heritage

Shri Krishna Janambhoomi is a Hindu temple in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The temple is built around the prison cell where Krishna is said to have been born. It is situated next to Kesava Deo Temple and the Shahi Eid Gah Mosque. Photography is banned inside the complex by the government.

The site celebrated as the birth place of Krishna. Krishna, as tradition goes, was born in a prison and the prison is said to have existed on the plot marked by a stone plate. To the right of it is the idgah. 1949

The original temple was built by King Vajra, then later rebuilt by Vikramaditya. The temple is said to have been destroyed and rebuilt 17 times in its history. Today the temple is one of the most frequently visited temples in India.