Jhulan Purnima Puja

Sarbojonin Hindu Udjapon Parisod Rome Italy. Torpignattara. ROME – 3 August 2020

After the long months of lockdown, the religious activities of the Bangladesh community animate the temples and mosques of Torpignattara again.

The Hindu community has, finally, met at the mondir (temple) Sarbojonin Hindu Udjapon Parisod Rome Italy for the first Puja (prayer) with the hope that things will go better in the months to come.

A Puja that is not used to seeing, inspired by the romantic swing of Krishna and Radha.

Still not very crowded and with a little fear the Hindu community tries to forget the dark days with songs and dances in honor of Krishna.

I was with them.

From Wikipedia:

Jhulan Yatra is one of the most important festivals for the followers of Lord Krishna celebrated in the monsoon month of Shravan. After Holi and Janmashthami, it is the biggest and most popular religious occasion of the Vaishnavas. Known for its spectacular display of decorated swings, song and dance, Jhulan is a joyful festival celebrating the Radha-Krishna amour coupled with the romantic fervor of the rainy season in India. It is celebrated in the month of Shraavana, which takes place in July and August on the Gregorian calendar. The 2017 date is August 3-7

Jhulan Yatra has been inspired from the swing pastimes of Krishna and his consort Radha during their romance in the idyllic pastoral groves of Vrindavan, where the divine lovers along with their cowherd friends and gopis took part in joyful swinging in the cool monsoon season. These pastimes are mentioned in literature such as the Bhagavata Purana, the Harivamsa, and the Gita Govinda, and the metaphor of the swing of the monsoon or 'Sawan Ke Jhuley' have since been used by poets and songwriters to describe the romantic feeling that permeates the rainy season in the Indian subcontinent.

The popular Krishna literature Hari Bhakti Vilasa (Performance of Devotion to Hari or Krishna) mentions Jhulan Yatra as part of the various festivals dedicated to Krishna: “…the devotees serve the Lord during the summer by placing Him on the boat, taking Him out on a procession, applying sandalwood on His body, fanning Him with chamara, decorating Him with jeweled necklaces, offering Him palatable foodstuffs, and bringing Him out to swing Him in the pleasant moonlight.”

“With a drop of my energy I enter the earth and support all creatures. Through the moon, the vessel of life-giving fluid, I nourish all plants. I enter breathing creatures and dwell within as the life-giving breath. I am the fire in the stomach which digests all food.” (Bhagavad-Gita)

“The Lord dwells in the hearts of all creatures and whirls them round upon the wheel of maya. Run to him for refuge with all your strength, and peace profound will be yours through his grace.” (Bhagavad-Gita)

“My true being is unborn and changeless. I am the Lord who dwells in every creature. Through the power of my own maya, I manifest myself in a finite form.” (Bhagavad-Gita)

Temple: Sarbojonin Hindu Udjapon Parisod Rome Italy. Torpignattara. ROME – 3 August 2020

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