Braj Narratives
Forests of Vrindavan
Documentation
Studio 3
The landscape of Braj is said to have been the place where Krishna grew up. It is circumscribed by a 252km pilgrimage across the towns of Mathura, Gokul, Govardhan and Vrindavan. For the project, we documented 75 sites along the four pilgrimages across the towns of Braj. It aims to not only learn about the intangible aspects of the city but also look at it with its relationship to the built environment of the city. The study was interested in the way that architecture, everyday life and ritual intersect with each other.
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Vrindavan also known as Brindaban is a city located about 17 km from the city of Mathura, surrounded on the three sides by the River Yamuna. The city is known for it uninhabited dense forests and the myths related to it, but in the last 200 years, the extensive forests have been subjected to urbanization. First by the monarchs and in the recent decades by developers. The forest cover has been whittled away to only a few remaining spots, and the local wildlife including peacocks, cows and a variety of bird species have been virtually eliminated.
- COA Heritage Awards National Level Shortlisted Entry
- Exhibited at CEPT Ahmedabad &
Kalakriti Art Gallery Hyderabad
Vrindavan, India
2018-19
Mentors - Rohan Shivkumar
Collaborators - Shreya R, Saayli S,
Prajakta P
Drawing the city
The documentation aimed to inscribe the study of the entire site into one drawing by unfolding, distorting various planes of the site. The distortion allowed the drawing to represent various spaces at once, as opposed to other forms of three dimensional drawing. It takes the same technique of the Mughal miniatures by skewing the space in straight parallel planes or obliques in an attempt to tell different stories all at once.
Hand drawn mock drawings
Left - Nidhivan
Right - Keshi Ghat
Illusions & conjured up myths
Each temple situated in the forest charges a pilgrim to drop off various food items and/or accessories as an offering to mythical deities. Which they then receive half eaten next day, supposedly consumed by the deities.
Forests of Vrindavan
The forests of Vrindavan have been an intrinsic part of the city. All the myths and stories related to Krishna have some kind of a relation or stem from the forest. The forests thrive on their religious identities. However today, the forests and the temples within have been commercialized under the same guise of myths and religious offerings.
Since the past 200 years, the foliage of these forests have receded over time, this is mainly due to urbanization. The two main forests that exist today are
Drawn in collaboration with Ayushi S.
Seva Kunj
also known as Nikunj Van is spread across 2.3 acres and houses more than 10,000 Tulsi trees with intertwined barks. Although, smaller than Nidhivan, the accessible pathway circumambulates the forest with a steel mesh over it.
Nidhivan
is a forest spread across 3.6 acres, brimmed with more than 16,000 Tulsi trees. It is accessible with a pathway sprawling across the entire forest with pause points and temples along the way.
Delusions & Rituals
Both the forests are guarded by tall compound walls. The believers say that the trees transform into Gopis during the night and as dawn breaks, turn back into trees again. One is not allowed to peep inside the forest at night. Prudent Pilgrims believe into the stories and donate charitable amounts to the forests.
Keshi Ghat
Keshi Ghat is situated along the Yamuna River, scenically set against a backdrop of huge intricately carved havelis with several temples within. The long stretch of the ghat witnesses multiple aartis dedicated to mythical deities and the river Yamuna.
Drawn in collaboration with :
Shreya R, Manthan B, Drishti G, Palak P, Shreyansh S, Aishwariya D, Prajakta G, Saayli S