- By Kashish Rai
- Sat, 02 Aug 2025 05:49 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Jhulan Yatra 2025 is a joyful and deeply spiritual festival celebrated with great devotion, especially in regions like Vrindavan and West Bengal. It marks the playful pastimes of Lord Krishna and Radha, as they swing on decorated swings during the monsoon season. It is usually celebrated before Janmashtami. This festival invites devotees to connect with the divine in a loving, personal way, through songs, dances and beautifully adorned temples. The sacred occasion of Jhulan Yatra reflects the mood of devotion (bhakti) and the sweet bond between the divine and the devotee.
Check out all the significant details regarding the start and end date, significance and rituals of this grand swing festival below:
Jhulan Yatra 2025: Start And End Date
- Jhulan Yatra 2025 Start Date: 5th August 2025, Tuesday
- Jhulan Yatra 2025 End Date: 9th August 2025, Saturday
Jhulan Yatra 2025: Significance
Jhulan Yatra beautifully celebrates the divine love and playful pastimes of Lord Krishna and Srimati Radha Rani. This tradition began in Vrindavan, where the gopis lovingly crafted a flower-laden swing to honour their beloved Lord and His eternal consort. It was their way of expressing devotion through celebration. The festival glorifies how even the simplest gestures, like setting up a swing, can become profound acts of love when done with a heart full of bhakti and reverence.
According to various Hindu legends and folklore, after Radha Rani’s marriage to Abhimanyu or Ayan, she once visited her parents’ home in Barsana. Her close friends or sakhis welcomed her with beautifully adorned swings, filling the air with devotion and fragrance. Radha Rani joyfully swayed on those swings with her companions, yet deep in her heart, she longed for Lord Krishna’s presence. Despite being surrounded by loved ones, the absence of Krishna left a quiet yearning in her soul, revealing the depth of her unwavering love and devotion.
Moved by RadhaRani’s silent longing, Lord Krishna began visiting Barsana in disguise, sometimes as a sage, a vendor or even an elderly woman. His only wish was to be near His dearest Radha and join her on the swing. These secret visits symbolise the Lord’s unconditional love for His pure devotee.
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Jhulan Yatra, a divine swing festival, celebrates Radha Rani and Krishna's playful pastimes, showcasing devotion and love through beautifully adorned swings, songs and dances. (Image Source: ISKCON Congregation)
Jhulan Yatra 2025: Rituals
Jhulan Yatra is celebrated with immense devotion in the sacred towns of Mathura, Vrindavan, and Mayapur. During this festival, thousands of devotees gather to honour Radha Rani and Lord Krishna. The deities are brought out of the sanctum and placed on magnificently decorated swings, often made of silver or gold. Temples like Banke Bihari, Radha-Ramana and Dwarkadhish come alive with vibrant energy and spiritual celebration.
In Odisha, particularly at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Jhulan Yatra takes a unique form. Here, the deity of Lord Jagannath is gently swung to the rhythmic accompaniment of devotional music and dance. The celebration continues for a week leading up to Shravan Purnima. Local temples and mathas across the region participate in this joyful ritual. The atmosphere is filled with divine energy, as devotees come together in unity to honour the Lord through heartfelt singing and collective worship.
The ISKCON community plays a significant role in keeping the spirit of Jhulan Yatra alive across the world. At the ISKCON temples, especially in Mayapur, ISKCON’s global headquarters, Radha and Krishna are placed on a beautiful swing in the temple courtyard. Devotees offer flower petals, sing bhajans and chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra with great enthusiasm. A special aarti is performed after the swing ceremony. Offerings of food or bhog are made with love, and devotees participate in dancing and singing that elevates the entire atmosphere.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON’s founder, encouraged devotees to observe Jhulan Yatra with daily rituals. The deities are dressed in fresh clothes each day, and delicious prasad is distributed among the devotees. Group kirtans or sankirtans are sung joyfully. A throne is often created to seat the divine couple, who are then swung gently amidst the devotional melodies. In the Pushtimarg Vaishnav tradition, a similar celebration known as Hindola lasts fifteen days, with each day featuring uniquely decorated swings made from different materials.