Vrindaban gears up for colorful Hindola festival

Vrindaban, the land of Radha Krishna, is all set to welcome lakhs of pilgrims for the annual Hindola Utsav beginning on Monday.
"Security has been beefed up and movement of vehicular traffic in the Mela area has been banned for Hindola festival starting on Hariyali Teej (August 17).
"The entire Mela area has been divided into six sectors with magistrate of SDM level incharge of each sector. Every magistrate will have to perform 12 hours duty. Police in plain cloth has also been posted in the sensitive areas specially in the temples", District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar said.
Intensive frisking of vehicles is also being done, he stated.

The festival is celebrated by decorating a swing- 'Hindola'- in various ways throughout the whole month. While some Hindolas present picture of environmental protection, others are majestic and very costly in nature.
The Hindola of Bankey Behari temple is the main attraction of beginning of Hindola Utsava as it is open to public only for one day.

"Made of several monds of gold and silver and made in about a decade, the seven decade old Hindola is so sparkling that it appears that it was made only yesterday", former President of temple committee Acharya Anand Kishor Goswami said.
The Hindola of Radha Ballabh temple, Radha Raman temple, Radha Shyam Sundar temple and Radha Damodar temple are also delightful to watch.

"Charitable institutions offer Prasadam (food) for pilgrims coming from different parts of the country, on the occasion", Acharya dinesh Chandra Goswami , the Priest of Radha Raman temple stated.