Braj

Braj is a historical and cultural region in northern India, centered on the towns of Mathura and Vrindavan in present-day Uttar Pradesh. The area lies along the Yamuna River and includes parts of western Mathura District and nearby towns such as Govardhan, Barsana, and Nandgaon. In traditional usage, Braj denotes both a geographical zone and a cultural-linguistic area closely associated with the life of Krishna and the legends of Braj Bhakti.

Braj is home to Braj Bhasha, a western Hindi dialect used in medieval devotional poetry and songs. The literature flourished from the 15th to 18th centuries, with poets such as Surdas and other Bhakti writers composing in Braj. This body of work helped shape Krishna devotion, the region’s religious identity, and the spread of Krishna-centered pilgrimage and performance traditions.

Religious practice in Braj centers on Krishna’s earthly pastimes. The region contains famous pilgrimage sites including Mathura, Vrindavan, Govardhan Hill, Barsana, and Nandgaon. Braj culture features annual festivals, Raslila dramas, and the celebration of Janmashtami and Holi with distinctive regional customs. Temples, ghats along the Yamuna, and rural festivals are common features of Braj’s cultural landscape.

Today Braj is recognized as a historic and cultural landscape within Uttar Pradesh, attracting pilgrims, scholars, and tourists. Efforts exist to preserve its temples, folk arts, and linguistic heritage, while contemporary Braj art, music, and literature continue to draw on traditional themes.