Banke Bihari Temple celebrates Hariyali Teej with historic gold and silver swing

Thousands of devotees gathered in Mathura and Vrindavan to celebrate Hariyali Teej, witnessing the rare ‘Jhula Darshan’ at the Banke Bihari Temple. For the 80th time, the deity was seated on a historic gold and silver swing (Hindola) that was originally crafted between 1942 and 1947 by artisans from Banaras.

The massive swing, weighing approximately five tons and composed of 180 parts, features intricate carvings of peacocks, pillars, and life-sized figures of the deity's companions. It incorporates roughly 10,000 tolas of gold and 100,000 tolas of silver. This year's celebration followed a major renovation of the swing, which was completed by 28 artisans from Jaipur after a 25-year interval.

To mark the occasion, the deity was adorned in special green attire brought from Delhi and decorated with precious gold jewelry. Due to the heavy influx of pilgrims, local administration implemented security measures, including traffic restrictions and the use of golf carts to manage the crowds in the narrow streets of Vrindavan.