{{For|the language|Braj Bhasha}} {{Redirect|Brij Bhoomi|the 1982 film|Brij Bhoomi (film)}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Infobox region <!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions --> | name = Braj | type = Region | image_skyline = {{multiple image | total_width = 290 | border = infobox | perrow = 1/2/2 | image1 = Radha Krishna 20.jpg | image2= Mathura Temple-Mathura-India0002.JPG | image3 =Chhatris of Barsana 03.jpg | image4 =Madanmohan_Mandir_Vrindavan.JPG | image5 = Kusuma Sarovar Ghat.jpg}} | caption = '''Zigzag from top-left:''' Radha Krishna at Kirti Temple, Barsana, Krishna Janmasthan in Mathura, Radha Rani Temple in Barsana, Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan and Kusum Sarovar in Govardhan Hill. | mapframe=yes | mapframe-zoom=4 | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|India}} | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = Northern India | blank_name_sec1 = Language | blank_info_sec1 = Braj Bhasha }}
'''Braj''', also known as '''Vraj''', '''Vraja''', '''Brij''' or '''Brijbhumi''', is a region in India on both sides of the Yamuna river with its centre at Mathura-Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh state encompassing the area which also includes Palwal, Ballabhgarh and Nuh in Haryana state, Deeg, Bharatpur, Karauli, and Dholpur in Rajasthan state and Morena District in Madhya Pradesh.<ref name="janet1">Janet Cochrane, 2008, [https://books.google.com/books?id=LC4c7i3WrPgC&dq=Braj+region+covers+haryana+and+rajasthan&pg=PA249 Asian Tourism: Growth and Change], page 249.</ref> Within Uttar Pradesh, it is very well demarcated culturally, the area stretches from the Mathura, Aligarh, Agra, Hathras and districts up to the Etawah district.<ref name="LuciaMichelutti1">{{cite web | url=http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/2106/1/U613338.pdf | title=Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town | publisher=London School of Economics and Political Science University of London | work=PhD Thesis Social Anthropology | date=2002 | access-date=20 May 2015 | author=Lucia Michelutti | pages=49}}</ref> Braj region is associated with Radha and Krishna who according to scriptures were born in Barsana and Mathura respectively.<ref>{{Citation|title=ONE. The Social Construction of Emotion in India|date=1990-12-31|work=Divine Passions|pages=3–34|publisher=University of California Press|doi=10.1525/9780520309753-002|isbn=978-0-520-30975-3|last1=Lynch |first1=Owen M. }}</ref><ref name="Lucia Michelutti00"/> It is the main centre of Krishna circuit of Hindu pilgrimage.<ref name=janet1/>
It is located 150 km south of Delhi and 50 km northwest of Agra.<ref name=janet1/>
Ecologically, the character of Braj has drastically changed in the last 200 years, with a heavy decline in the number of wild animals along with deforestation. Writing in the late 1980s, Entwistle noted there were only a few groves left in the region, and that many sacred sites were being encroached upon by human agricultural settlements.{{Sfn|Entwistle|1987|p=2-3}}
==Etymology== The term Braj is derived from the Sanskrit word व्रज ''vraja''.<ref name="Lucia Michelutti00">{{cite web | url=http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/2106/1/U613338.pdf | title=Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town | publisher=London School of Economics and Political Science University of London | work=PhD Thesis Social Anthropology | date=2002 | access-date=20 May 2015 | author=Lucia Michelutti | pages=46}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Prasad|first=Dev|title=Krishna: A Journey through the Lands & Legends of Krishna|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o0_5caqiUH0C&pg=PT16|year=2015|publisher=Jaico Publishing House|isbn=978-81-8495-170-7}}</ref> Vraja was first mentioned in Rigveda, and in Sanskrit it means a pasture, shelter or resort for cattle from the Sanskrit term ''"{{lang|sa-Latn|vraj}}"'' which means "to go" in English.
==Braj pilgrimage circuits== {{anchor | Braj Yatra | Braj pilgrimage | Krishna pilgrimage }} {{main | Vraja Parikrama}} {{see | 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra | Dwarka | Hindu pilgrimage sites in India }}
The'' Braj Yatra'' circuit of pilgrimage was formally established by the 16th-century sadhus of the vaishnava sampradaya with fixed routes, itinerary and rituals. The area the circuit covers is spread across 2500 km<sup>2</sup> with 84 kos or 300 km long periphery extending 10 km to the east and 50 km to the north and west. Braj has two main types of pilgrimage circuits, the traditional longer ''Braj Yatra'' encompassing the whole circuit, and the other shorter significantly modified contemporary point-to-point pilgrimage to visit the main sites at Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Govardhan. The former, longer traditional pilgrimage route, also includes additional sacred sites Nandgaon and Barsana with travel on foot.<ref name="janet1" />
=== Notable pilgrimage sites === Notable pilgrimage sites taken from Entwistle (1987).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Entwistle |first=Alan William |title=Braj: A Center of Krishna Pilgrimage |publisher=Egbert Forsten |year=1987 |pages=309–429, 521-552|chapter=The Pilgrimage Itinerary}}</ref> * Mathura (Mathurā) ** Vishram Ghat (Viśrām Ghāṭ) ** Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex (Kr̥ṣṇa Janmasthān) ** Kans Quila (Kans Kilā) ** Dwarkadhish Temple, Mathura (Dvārkādhīś Temple) * Madhu Forest (Madhuban) * Radha Kund (Rādhākuṇḍ) * Kusum Sarovar * Govardhan Hill * Bachhgaon (Bacchagā̃v) * Deeg (Ḍīg) * Kaman, Rajasthan (Kāmā̃) * Barsana (Barsānā) * Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh (Nandgā̃v) * Kamai, Uttar Pradesh (Kamāī) * Chhata (Chātā) * Kokilavan (Kokilāban) * Kosi Kalan (Kosī) * Paigaon (Paigā̃v) * Shergarh, Uttar Pradesh (Śergaṛh) * Bhandirvan, Vrindavan (Bhāṇḍīrvan) * Vrindavan (Vr̥ndāvana) ** Radha Madan Mohan Temple (Rādhā Madanmohan) ** Banke Bihari Temple (Bā̃ke Bihārī) ** Radha Vallabh Temple (Rādhāvallabh) ** Radha Damodar Temple (Rādhādāmodar) ** Nidhivan ** Radha Raman Temple (Rādhāramaṇ) * Baldeo (Baldev) * Mahaban (Mahāban) * Gokul Brij Mahotsav is a festival that is celebrated for three days in Shukla paksha of Phalgun. It is celebrated in the month of March. Held in honour of Lord Krishna, this festival is marked by verve and zest. Villagers, in gay, multicoloured attire, can be seen singing and performing the Raslila dance (dance depicting the immortal love-story of Radha and Krishna). All of Bharatpur echoes the sound of folk melodies on this festival held on the eve of Holi.<ref name="rajasthantourism1">{{cite web |title=Rajasthan Tourism |url=http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/Attractions/Fairs-Festivals/BrajMahotsav(Festival).aspx |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505220814/http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/Attractions/Fairs-Festivals/BrajMahotsav%28Festival%29.aspx |archivedate=2014-05-05 |accessdate=2014-05-31 |publisher=rajasthantourism.gov.in}}</ref>
== Demographics == Hindus form the majority of residents of the Braj region. The major Brahmin castes include the Sanadhyas, Gaurs, Chaubes, and Ahiwasis. Among the cultivating and pastoral castes, there are the Yadavs (Ahirs),<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Palshikar |first1=Suhas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ONcNDgAAQBAJ&dq=Braj+area+%28Doab+Yadavs&pg=PT62 |title=Electoral Politics in India: The Resurgence of the Bharatiya Janata Party |last2=Kumar |first2=Sanjay |last3=Lodha |first3=Sanjay |date=2017-02-03 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-351-99691-4 |language=en}}</ref> Jats, Jadauns, Rajputs, Gujars, Meos, and Chamars. The main merchant castes are Agrawals, Khandelwals, Maheshwaris, and Barahsainis. Muslims form a small minority, with nearly negligible presence of Jains, Sikhs, and Christians.{{Sfn|Entwistle|1987|p=4-8}}
== Braj culinary tradition == Braj region is known for its rich and flavorful culinary tradition. The twin cities, Mathura and Vrindavan, which are associated with Shri Krishna are main centers of Braj Cuisine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Braj Cuisine Echoes The Legends Of Lord Krishna, Radha And Holi |url=https://www.slurrp.com/article/holi-2023-braj-cuisine-echoes-the-legends-of-lord-krishna-radha-and-holi-1677850126840 |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=Slurrp |language=en |quote=Even now, Krishna is an integrated part of the Braj community and diet, influencing the culture in indelible ways. The essential elements of Braj cuisine are based on a few beliefs and traditions}}</ref>
==See also== ; Regional * Braj language * Vajji, the ancient region of the Vṛji janapada that Bajjika evolved from * Charkula, Braj dance done with wooden pyramids * [http://www.indianfolkdances.com/mayur-dance.html Mayur], peacock dance with Krishna and Radha * Rasiya, local style of music * Dhrupad, Indian music genre started in Braj
; Religious * 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra * Dwarka * Hindu pilgrimage sites in India
; Vedic era * King Kuru * Cemetery H culture * Painted Grey Ware culture
; General * Kingdoms of Ancient India * Regions of Haryana * Regions of Rajasthan * Regions of Uttar Pradesh
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== *Rupert Snell, ''The Hindi Classical Tradition: A Braj Bhasa Reader.'' Includes grammar, readings and translations, and a good glossary.
{{Mahajanapada}} {{Tribes and kingdoms of the Mahabharata}} {{Mahabharata}} {{Historical regions of North India}}
Category:Krishna Category:Mahabharata Category:Yadava kingdoms Category:Rigvedic tribes Category:Indo-Aryan peoples Category:Iron Age countries in Asia Category:Iron Age cultures of South Asia Category:Ancient peoples Category:Places in Hindu mythology Category:Regions of Haryana Category:Regions of Rajasthan Category:Regions of Uttar Pradesh Category:Tourism in Uttar Pradesh Category:Brij