Shrinathdwara, Rajsamand, Rajasthan India

In 1672 AD the idol of Lord Shrinathji, the image of Lord Krishna, was installed in a new temple built in Sinhad, now called Nathdwara on the banks of the Banas River. The story goes that when Aurangzeb had embarked on a policy of total destruction of Hindu temples, the custodians of the idol of Shrinathji of Govardhan near Mathura, left that place with the idol in search of a safe heaven. While several other princes were diffident, it was Maharana Raj Singh who dared to provide refuge. Ever since the installation of the statue, Nathdwara temple is a place of great sanctity for the Vaishnavas of the Pushtimargi or Vallabha sect. Nathdwara is known for Pichwais (Large paintings on cloth depicting legends from the life of Lord Krishna) and Haweli music (devotional music, akin to dhrupad singing with composition meant for various seasons, festivals and sections of the day). There are two different types of pooja - one is `Nityotsava`, daily routine and another `Varshotsava`, occasional or special. The former includes Mangla, Shringar, Gwal, Rajbhog, Uthapan, Bhog, Aarti and Shayan.