In the holy town of Vrindavan in the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh, where Krishna spent his enchanting childhood, stands the beloved Banke Bihari temple. Here Krishna is worshipped as Banke Bihari — the one who stands in a graceful three-fold bend — a captivating image revealed, tradition holds, by the great mystic-musician saint Swami Haridas, whose devotional song drew the Lord himself to manifest.
The temple's worship is uniquely intimate: there are no bells or conches, and a curtain before the deity is drawn and closed again every few moments, so that devotees behold the Lord only in loving glimpses, lest his beauty overwhelm them. Thronged especially during Janmashtami, Holi, and the Jhulan festival, Banke Bihari is among the most cherished shrines of Vrindavan, radiant with the tender bhakti of the Braj.
