The Braj Mahotsav is celebrated before Holi and is a festival marked by verve and zest. Held in honour of Lord Krishna the villagers adorn themselves in gay, multihued attire and indulge in signing and performing the Raslila dance (dance depicting the immortal love-story of Radha and Krishna).
Organized by the Department of Tourism and the District Administration of Bharatpur – the three-day Braj festival will comprise of a number of events to celebrate the occasion. This was informed by the Commissioner, Tourism, Ms. Gayatri Rathore today. She said that the three-day event will be a melange of folk performances, rasleela, shobha yatra, Deep Daan and varied competitions.
On 2 February the festival will begin with Ganesh Pujan (Ganeshji Mandir, Atal Bandh Gate) at 9 am which will be followed by a shobha yatra(procession) at 10 am from Laxman Mandir to MSJ College Ground. Later from 12 noon to 4 pm at the MSJ College Ground there will be various competitions like Horse Decoration, Horse Dance, Kabaddi, Tug of War (between Indian and foreigners), Cricket Match (between foreigners and Bharatpurians), Dada-Pota Race and Radha-Krishan Dress Competition. There will also be Folk Cultural performances. In the evening at 7.30 pm will be the well known Rasleela, organized by the Nagar Parishad at the Shri Ganga Mandir.
On 3 February there will be an early morning Mahaarti at 5 am at the Bihariji Mandir at the Bharatpur Fort. Subsequently from 9 am there will be Bharatpur City Heritage Monuments tour (for tourists) and Bandh Baretha, Bayana tour. The tour will begin from Tourist Reception Centre, Saras Circle. From 11 am to 5 pm there will be a photography exhibition and competition as well as a film show (on wild life) at the Interpretation Centre, Keoladeo National Park. In the evening at 6 pm there will be Deep Daan at Nav Grah Kund. In the evening from 7.30 pm to 9.45 pm the tourists and visitors will witness cultural evening (Rajasthani folk performances by Rajasthan Tourism) at Gramin Haat.
On 4 February from 2 pm to 4.30 pm there will be a Coloured Fountains Show with folk music and dance at the well known Deeg Palace, which is 35 km away from Bharatpur. Later, from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm there will be a cultural programme at Kot Upar Stadium in Kaman. Furthermore, from 7.30 pm to 10 pm there will an All India Kavi Sammelan (by Vyapari Ekta Samiti) at Gramin Haat.
The District Industries Centre of Bharatpur has also joined hands to organize a week-long ‘Braj Industry & Handicraft Fair from 1 February to 7 February from 12 noon to 8 pm at Gramin Haat.