Radha Ashtami 2024: Lakhs of Devotees Gather in Barsana for Radharani’s Birth Anniversary, Security Tightened
Barsana, UP – Barsana is brimming with joy and devotion as lakhs of devotees arrive to celebrate Radha Ashtami, marking the birth anniversary of Braj’s beloved queen, Radha Rani. The serene town has transformed into a festive hub, with vibrant decorations, spiritual songs, and a heightened sense of devotion echoing throughout the Braj region. The festivities, which are celebrated across Braj, are most prominent in Barsana, the birthplace of Radha Rani, also affectionately known as Vrishbhanu Dulari.
For the comfort and safety of the devotees, the local administration has made elaborate arrangements. The ropeway facility has been made available for devotees to get a closer glimpse of Radha Rani during darshan, which will be operational throughout the festival. Barsana has been beautifully adorned, and the atmosphere resonates with chants of “Radhe Radhe” as devotees gather to pay their respects.
This year, the celebrations are expected to be grander than ever, with a large number of people pouring into Barsana to participate in the Radha Ashtami festivities. To ensure the safety of devotees, the police administration has left no stone unturned. Senior police officials are overseeing the event, and a detailed security plan has been put in place, with 86 Berry gates erected across Barsana for crowd control. These security gates, coupled with the deployment of additional police forces, are aimed at ensuring smooth entry and exit for the devotees, while keeping a close watch on the crowds.
The police administration, led by senior officials, is closely monitoring the situation. Police officers have been instructed to maintain strict security and to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the devotees. To streamline the darshan process, the timings for Jalabhishek, Mangala Aarti, and Radha Rani’s darshan have been extended to over five hours. This extension ensures that the lakhs of devotees who arrive at Barsana are able to have a peaceful and fulfilling experience.
The police have also deployed drones to monitor the fair area, while CCTV cameras have been installed to keep a constant watch on the crowds. The smooth flow of the event is further facilitated by 20 roadways buses and additional buses from the Mathura Municipal Corporation, ensuring that devotees do not face difficulties while traveling to and from the festival.
As Radha Rani graces the devotees with darshan, she will be dressed in exquisite attire. This year, she adorns herself with a dress embellished with diamonds and pearls, along with an array of jewelry worth over 80 lakh rupees. Her Shringar Aarti includes a diamond necklace, gold bangles, earrings, a gold crown, and other sparkling ornaments that add to the regal atmosphere of the celebration. The sight of Radha Rani in her full glory, paired with the spiritual ambiance, leaves the devotees in awe.
In addition to security, health camps have been established across Barsana to cater to any medical emergencies. Thirty-six doctors have been stationed on duty, and ambulances are ready to respond at a moment’s notice, ensuring that any medical needs of the devotees are swiftly addressed.
Barsana’s Radha Ashtami celebration is one of the most significant festivals in the Braj region, with every house echoing with joy and congratulations for the birth of Radharani. The Brahmachal mountain, where Radha Rani is seated, is filled with the sounds of celebrations and chants of her name. Lakhs of devotees have arrived to witness the auspicious event and partake in the spiritual fervor surrounding Barsana.
As the birth anniversary of Radha Rani unfolds, Barsana’s streets are bustling with devotional energy. The celebrations continue as Radha Rani, the queen of Braj, blesses her devotees with darshan, and the town resonates with the love and reverence that Radha Rani commands in the hearts of her followers.
