MUSHALPUR, Sept 4 - In continuation of a 121-year-old tradition, the inhabitants of Bhogpara village near Mushalpur celebrated Nandotsav on Monday.
As the legend goes Nanda, the chief of Gokul performed various religious rites wishing for a child when they had no children long after their marriage. Finally they got a child in the form of Sri Krishna and the subjects of Nanda expressed their joy by playing and throwing mud at each other.
The villagers of Bhogpara have been following this tradition for the last 121 years. From grandparents to grandchildren, the villagers of every age assemble at the Doul temple on this day and get into mud and rejoice by playing in it.
An interesting game of searching out hidden coconuts and pomeloes, a citrus fruit, from the mud is organised much to the enjoyment of the participants and onlookers. Gargaram Das, president of Nandotsav organising committee, said on the occasion that the festival fosters brotherhood and love among the people. �It feels really good to celebrate a royal festival for over a century,�� he added. It is noteworthy that even those villagers who cannot participate in the celebration consider it auspicious to put a tilak of mud on their foreheads.
MUSHALPUR, Sept 4 - In continuation of a 121-year-old tradition, the inhabitants of Bhogpara village near Mushalpur celebrated Nandotsav on Monday.
As the legend goes Nanda, the chief of Gokul performed various religious rites wishing for a child when they had no children long after their marriage. Finally they got a child in the form of Sri Krishna and the subjects of Nanda expressed their joy by playing and throwing mud at each other.
The villagers of Bhogpara have been following this tradition for the last 121 years. From grandparents to grandchildren, the villagers of every age assemble at the Doul temple on this day and get into mud and rejoice by playing in it.
An interesting game of searching out hidden coconuts and pomeloes, a citrus fruit, from the mud is organised much to the enjoyment of the participants and onlookers. Gargaram Das, president of Nandotsav organising committee, said on the occasion that the festival fosters brotherhood and love among the people. �It feels really good to celebrate a royal festival for over a century,�� he added. It is noteworthy that even those villagers who cannot participate in the celebration consider it auspicious to put a tilak of mud on their foreheads.
