Lyrical Expressions of Braj Culture

Sanjhee
This is the colorful art of decorating the ground with flowers. The story goes that Shri Krishna, in order to please Radha, decorated the floor with flowers one evening, and thereafter this art was known as Sanjhee.

Raaslilas
According to the Bhagwat Purana, Shri Krishna along with the Gopikas had danced the Raas on the banks of the Yamuna. When the intimate Gopikas felt conceited about Lord Krishna dancing with them, he disappeared from their midst. In the agony of separation from their beloved Krishna, the Gopikas recalled and enacted his lilas (divine episodes of his life) which is course of time came to be known as the Raaslilas. The Raaslila in its present form is ascribed to Swami Haridas and Shri Narayan Bhatt. Only young Brahmin boys of 13 to 14 years of age can perform the Raaslilas. The charming childhood pranks of Shri Krishna constitute the main theme of these dramas.

Chaarkula
This is a traditional folk dance of Braj, where female dancer balances a column of lighted deepikas over her head while dancing. The charkula, a tapered wooden column with four to five circular tires has earthen lamps on each level. The number of lamps can range from 51 to 108 at times. The dancer with her face veiled, moves with swift, graceful movements while balancing the 40 to 50 kilogram charkula on her head. A dramatic dance that is visually attractive, it is performed on the Dooj of Holi, to the accompaniment of Rasiya songs rendered by the men folk.

Rasiya
This is the rich tradition of folk songs that is found in the Braj era. Rasiya songs describe the love of the divine couple Radha and Shri Krishna. It is an inseparable part of the Holi celebrations and all other festive occasions at Braj. The Rasiya is sung to the rhythm of huge drums, locally known as bumb.