Most of us know Janmashtami. Many know about Krishna's playful stories in Vrindavan. But there is another festival where Krishna, or a form of Vishnu depending on the regional tradition, is quite literally taken out for a water journey. Sounds almost like a divine boat day, right? That is the charm of Jal Jhulni Ekadashi. The festival is particularly visible across parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, where temples can turn the occasion into colourful processions filled with flowers, music, bhajans and decorated palanquins. In some traditions, the deity is taken to a river, lake, pond or temple tank for a ceremonial water ride or bathing ritual. And there is more to this seemingly simple journey than meets the eye.
