When the first monsoon clouds settle over Braj, the temples take down their winter robes and hang swings. Gardens turn green, the Yamuna rises and in every courtyard the Lord is seated on a jhula and gently pushed, as a child is pushed by a mother. This is Sawan, the month of the swing.
It is said that no season in Braj is as tender. Here is how the swing festivals run, and how to see them without a soaking or a crush.
What the festival is and why Braj celebrates it
The Hindola or Jhulan Yatra festivals honour the swing pastimes of Radha and Krishna in the rains. In Braj the whole month of Shravan, usually July to August, is a season of swings, with music, green decorations and special offerings. Rooms are decorated in the dark colours of rain clouds, and the swings are made of flowers, silver and gold.
The tradition is devotional and cultural, and the details come from temple practice. Whatever your sect, the sight is rich.
Dates and the build-up
Hariyali Teej, the key day at Banke Bihari, is listed on 4 August 2027 by one calendar, and we found no second source to confirm it, so check a panchang. Raksha Bandhan, which falls at the end of Shravan, is listed on 16 or 17 August 2027 by different sources.
The temple's own festival page says that the Phool Bangla, the flower pavilion festival, runs through Hariyali Amavasya, and that from the same day the preparations for the swing start. On Hariyali Teej evening, the deity is seated on the swing.
Swing darshan at Banke Bihari
The golden swing, known as Swarna Hindola, is taken out once a year in Sawan, and Banke Bihari is mounted on it on Hariyali Teej. According to the temple page, he moves out of the sanctum to the swing in the courtyard with Priyaji and Swami Haridas, and is dressed in a green poshak in harmony with nature. Accounts differ on whether this is a one-day or longer event.
The darshan is one of the most crowded of the year. In 2026 a news report mentioned the deity on a golden and silver swing, with the temple opening at 6 am. Confirm the timings with the temple office.
If you cannot be in Vrindavan on the day, the Hindola season runs for weeks, and many temples hang their swings through Shravan. The preparations at Banke Bihari, the green cloth and the flower pavilion, can be seen in the days before, and the lanes are cooler and less thick with people.
Radha Raman, Dwarkadhish and others
Dwarkadhish in Mathura keeps the Hindola and Ghata festivals in Shravan, with rooms in cloud colours, swings of flowers and gold, and haveli music. Radha Raman holds a quiet Jhulan in Vrindavan. Other old temples hang swings and sing monsoon songs, called malhar.
Each has its own schedule, so ask at the gate.
Teej and the village swings
Teej is also a festival of women, who wear green, apply mehndi and sing on swings tied to trees. In Braj the swing of the Lord and the swing of the village woman are one tradition. If you see a rope hung from a neem branch, you are seeing the same festival in a human form.
Visitors are welcome to watch with respect and not to photograph women without asking.
Traditional songs of this season are called malhar and kajri, and groups of women sing them in courtyards after sunset. If you hear one, stop for a few minutes. Listening costs nothing, and it is among the loveliest sounds of the Braj monsoon.
Crowd, safety and comfort plan
The monsoon brings humidity, slippery stone and sudden rain. Wear quick-dry clothes, rubber slippers and carry a small umbrella. Banke Bihari's lanes become one-way and crowded, and private cars are stopped well short of the temple. Hold phones in waterproof pouches.
Elders and children should prefer weekday darshan, and take extra care on wet steps. Water-borne illness is more likely in this season, so drink sealed water.
The Yamuna rises in the rains, and ghat steps may be under water. Do not enter the river, and do not let children go near the edge. Boat rides can be stopped at short notice if the current is strong, so keep your day flexible.
Where to stay and when to book
Sawan weekends and Teej fill rooms. Book early, choose a stay within walking distance of the old town and ask about parking. The Laladham homestay offers a calm base, and lala:Cab can plan around closures.
Food of the day and cab support
Ghevar, the honeycomb sweet, is the sweet of the season, and kheer and malpua are common. Buy from a busy counter and eat fresh. A lala:Cab driver and guide can bring you to the right lot, and help you keep to the quieter lanes.
Questions, answered
What is special about Hariyali Teej at Banke Bihari?
The deity is seated on the golden swing, Swarna Hindola, once a year in Sawan.
When is Hariyali Teej 2027?
One calendar lists 4 August 2027. Confirm with a panchang.
Is the monsoon a good time to visit?
It is green and quiet but humid and wet. Plan for rain.
Do other temples have swings?
Yes, Dwarkadhish, Radha Raman and many others keep Hindola festivals.
Timings, entry rules and fees change. Please confirm on the day with the temple or your driver.
- Hariyali Teej 2027 date (single source)
- Whether the swing darshan is one day or several
- Temple timings during Sawan
- Raksha Bandhan 2027 (16 or 17 August)
Walking this path soon?
If you would like a driver who knows the lanes and the timings, the lala:Cab app is there when you are ready. No advance, no pressure.