Nathdwara – the home to Dwarkadheesh, its #Myths & #Beliefs

Nathdwara is a small village in Rajasthan. The nearest railway station is Falna, and the nearest airport is at Udaipur. Otherwise, there are plenty of buses from Ahmedabad, Udaipur and even Mumbai which stop here daily. If you always wondered that dhoti, kurta and kedyu are outdated and no one wears it in this age, you are wrong. This visit to Nathdwara will change your mind on not just fashion but also in the way you pray!

Krishna in Nathdwara is at his home. He is in the bal swaroop or in the child avatar, hence also called Bal Gopal. The priests and pilgrims also treat Krishna as their kid at home.

Krishna is known to play pranks and in this swaroop of Krishna, he has adorned many ornaments belonging to Radha. This can be interpreted as Krishna giving us the message that for him, both the man and the lady are one, without any prejudice and he not only accepts both of them, but is also in both of them. In today's talks, this could also be interpreted as Krishna being a Feminist (laughs). Krishna wears the nath, hair bun, necklace, baajubandh, toe rings and anklets that belong to Radha.

People here at Nathdwara, both men and women, call themselves as the Gopis and express their love for their Krishna. This is often visible when you stand in the crowded line for the darshan. The darshans are a little different here. The haveli isn’t open through the day. Krishna gives darshan in various time slots. Totally, there are 7 darshans which happen through the day. It is said that on a daily basis Krishna travels to Mathura in his rath to give the eighth darshan – Shayan.

1. Mangala
2. Shringaar
3. Gwaal
4. Raj bhog
5. Uthapan
6. Bhog
7. Aarti
8. Shayan

Its not compulsory to do all the darshans, and it is said that if a person makes it for the Mangala darshan which is generally around 5 am, it kind of covers all darshans! Its a sight at 5 am, the village is already awake and many will start their business post offering their prayers to Krishna. After you complete the Mangala darshan, you simply have to treat yourself to the garam garam poha, khaman and chai which is served in a clay glass (small matka glass).

The Shringaar darshan shouldn’t be missed as Krishna is the best dressed at this time. If you see the moorti carefully, you will spot a diamond twinkling at the chin. Many believe that in the olden days, the Kohinoor rested at the chin of this moorti of Krishna.

The Raj bog darshan is the chhappan bhog offering i.e. fifty-six food items offered to Krishna. It goes without saying that the Raj bhog prasad is the best of all!

Apart from Krishna darshan, Nathdwara has a lot more to offer. It’s a foodies delight! Its khau galli or chowpatty gives the most delicious purple yam (known as kand here) throughout the year. You will also find plenty of stalls making thandai, garam doodh, kanda kachori, jeera goli and chaat.

Nathdwara is also a shoppers delight – especially for women. You get a wide range of sarees, dress materials, kurtas, dupattas, mojris. The famous bandhani and lehriya sarees and dupattas are also available here. And the best part is, at a much reasonable cost. Even the clothes (known as vaagha in local language), ornaments and other accessories of Bal Gopal are available here, and these are really pretty ones. Apart from this, you get very good silver, wooden toys, and utensils.

When you visit Nathdwara, you are at Gods’ home. And you tend to forget all the dirt, cow dung and garbage. You embrace the divine village atmosphere in all its simplicity.

Jai Shree Krishna. Or JSK as its now called _/\_