- By Kashish Rai
- Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:01 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Yamuna Chhath 2025 or Yamuna Jayanti is a significant Hindu festival that celebrates the descent of Goddess Yamuna to Earth. Mainly observed in the holy cities of Mathura and Vrindavan, this festival honours the goddess of the Yamuna River. It takes place on the sixth day of the bright half of the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra. During this festival, devotees gather to worship Goddess Yamuna, seeking her blessings and purification. By celebrating Yamuna Chhath, Hindus show their reverence for the sacred river and its life-giving properties. This year, Yamuna Chhath will be observed on 3rd April 2025.
On the sacred occasion of Goddess Yamuna’s appearance day, check out the legend behind the story of her birth and marriage with Lord Krishna below:
Yamuna Chhath 2025: How River Goddess Yamuna Took Birth
According to Hindu legends, River Goddess Yamuna was born from the divine Sun God, Surya. Her birth is deeply connected to the story of her twin brother, Yama, the God of Death. As the myth goes, Surya's intense heat was unbearable for his wife, Saranyu, who was unable to bear his radiance. To cope with this, Saranyu created a clone of herself, Chhaya, to take her place. Surya, unaware of the switch, fathered twins Yama and Yamuna with Chhaya.
Yamuna's early life is marked by a deep connection with her brother Yama. As twins, they were inseparable, and their bond was strong. However, their lives took different paths as they grew older. While Yama went on to become the God of Death, Yamuna was destined to become a river goddess. According to legend, Yamuna's transformation into a river occurred when she was cursed by her brother Yama. The curse led to her flowing as a river, and she was forever bound to the earthly realm.
As a river goddess, Yamuna is revered for her life-giving properties and her role in nourishing the fertile plains of northern India. Her sacred waters are believed to have purifying properties, and devotees flock to her banks to worship and seek her blessings. Through her story, Yamuna embodies the cyclical nature of life, death and rebirth, reminding us of the interconnectedness of all living beings.
In Hinduism, the Yamuna River ranks as one of the holiest, second only to the revered Ganges River which holds the top spot as the most sacred. (Image Source: Canva)
Yamuna Chhath 2025: How River Yamuna Got Married To Lord Krishna
As per the Bhagavata Purana, once Lord Krishna visited his cousins, the Pandava brothers in their capital Indraprastha. During his stay, Krishna and Arjuna went hunting in the forest. After a tiring hunt, they stopped by the Yamuna River to bathe and drink its clear waters. That's when they spotted a lovely girl strolling along the riverbank.
Krishna asked Arjuna to approach the girl and find out who she was. The girl introduced herself as Kalindi, daughter of Surya - the Sun God. She shared that she was living in a house built by her father in the river, where she was performing austerities to have Vishnu as her husband. Lord Krishna, being the avatar of Vishnu, agreed to marry Kalindi.
Lord Krishna and Kalindi returned to his capital Dwaraka, where they got married. The couple had ten sons: Shruta, Kavi, Vrsa, Vira, Subahu, Bhadra, Santi, Darsa, Purnamasa and the youngest, Somaka.
(Disclaimer: This content includes advice providing generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified spiritual or astrological opinion. Always consult a specialist for more information before adopting any measures.)
ALSO READ: Yamuna Chhath 2025: Date, Time, Significance And Rituals For Yamuna Jayanti
