Braj | |
|---|---|
     top to bottom:Radha Krishna atKirti Temple, Barsana, Krishna Janmasthan inMathura,Radha Rani Temple inBarsana, Radha Madan Mohan Temple,Vrindavan andKusum Sarovar inGovardhan Hill. | |
 Interactive map of Braj | |
| Country |  India |
| Region | Northern India |
| Language | Braj Bhasha |
Braj, also known asVraj,Vraja,Brij orBrijbhumi, is a region inIndia on both sides of theYamuna river with its centre atMathura-Vrindavan inUttar Pradesh state encompassing the area which also includesPalwal,Ballabhgarh andNuh inHaryana state,Deeg,Bharatpur,Karauli, andDholpur inRajasthan state andMorena District inMadhya Pradesh.[1] Within Uttar Pradesh, it is very well demarcated culturally, the area stretches from theMathura,Aligarh,Agra,Hathras and districts up to theEtawah district.[2] Braj region is associated withRadha andKrishna who according to scriptures were born inBarsana andMathura respectively.[3][4] It is the main centre ofKrishna circuit of Hindu pilgrimage.[1]
It is located 150 km south ofDelhi and 50 km northwest of Agra.[1]
Ecologically, the character of Braj has drastically changed in the last 200 years, with a heavy decline in the number of wild animals along withdeforestation. Writing in the late 1980s, Entwistle noted there were only a few groves left in the region, and that many sacred sites were being encroached upon by human agricultural settlements.[5]
The term Braj is derived from theSanskrit word व्रजvraja.[4][6] Vraja was first mentioned inRigveda, and inSanskrit it means apasture, shelter or resort for cattle from the Sanskrit term"vraj" which means "to go" in English.
TheBraj Yatra circuit of pilgrimage was formally established by the 16th-centurysadhus of thevaishnava sampradaya with fixed routes, itinerary and rituals. The area the circuit covers is spread across 2500 km2 with 84kos or 300 km long periphery extending 10 km to the east and 50 km to the north and west. Braj has two main types of pilgrimage circuits, the traditional longerBraj Yatra encompassing the whole circuit, and the other shorter significantly modified contemporary point-to-point pilgrimage to visit the main sites at Mathura, Vrindavan,Gokul,Govardhan. The former, longer traditional pilgrimage route, also includes additional sacred sitesNandgaon andBarsana with travel on foot.[1]
Notable pilgrimage sites taken from Entwistle (1987).[7]
Brij Mahotsav is a festival that is celebrated for three days inShukla paksha ofPhalgun. It is celebrated in the month of March. Held in honour ofLord Krishna, this festival is marked by verve and zest. Villagers, in gay, multicoloured attire, can be seen singing and performing theRaslila dance (dance depicting the immortal love-story ofRadha and Krishna). All of Bharatpur echoes the sound of folk melodies on this festival held on the eve ofHoli.[8]
Hindus form the majority of residents of the Braj region. The majorBrahmin castes include theSanadhyas,Gaurs,Chaubes, andAhiwasis. Among the cultivating and pastoral castes, there are theYadavs (Ahirs),[9]Jats,Jadauns,Rajputs,Gujars,Meos, andChamars. The main merchant castes areAgrawals,Khandelwals,Maheshwaris, andBarahsainis. Muslims form a small minority, with nearly negligible presence ofJains,Sikhs, andChristians.[10]
Braj region is known for its rich and flavorful culinary tradition. The twin cities,Mathura andVrindavan, which are associated with Shri Krishna are main centers ofBraj Cuisine.[11]
Even now, Krishna is an integrated part of the Braj community and diet, influencing the culture in indelible ways. The essential elements of Braj cuisine are based on a few beliefs and traditions
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