Krishna of Nandagaon

Krishna of Nandagaon

Tradition: Hindu / Vaishnava

The Place

• Location: Nandgaon, Mathura (27.7164°N, 77.3797°E) Uttar Pradesh
• Historical: Ancient; temple 18th c. CE

Story

Nandagaon is the village of Nanda-bābā and Yaśodā where Krishna grew up after his birth in Mathura prison (to escape Kaṁsa, the family fled to Nandagaon). The Nand-bhavan temple is on a hill overlooking the village. Every Holi, Nandagaon boys go to Barsana to tease Radha's friends — and return with bruises (Lath-mār Holi). The Parikramā of Nandagaon (7-km) is part of the Vraja-Mandal Yātrā (84-kos parikramā) — the 252-km pilgrimage around the whole of Krishna's boyhood land, done annually in Kārtika by lakhs of devotees.

Worship & Mantra

Rādhey Rādhey

Festival Cycle

• Lath-mār Holī (Phālguna, 1 day)
• Vraja Parikramā (Kārtika (Oct–Nov), 45 days)

Why This Entry Matters

Every tradition in India — textual, oral, tribal, regional, syncretic — deserves first-person recognition. This entry honours Hindu on its own terms.