KANS BEATEN TO DEATH....AN ANNUAL RITUAL BY MATHURA CHAUBEYS

Mathura

King Kansa,  representing evil forces, was today thrashed with lathies to death, climaxing the famous week-long celebrations associated with the Kans Mela.

The fair organised by the Teerth Purohit Chaturvedi Samaj of Mathura, ends at the mound near near Holi Gate where the huge effigy of Kans is positioned. Members of the Chaturvedi Samaj begin the preparations in the morning with ritualistic drinking of bhaang and thandai and consume sweets. In the evening a procession of Krishna and Balram is taken out, following which the members of the Samaj armed with lathies, start beating the effigy which is dragged to the Vishram Ghat on the Yamuna bank and immersed in the river.

Acharya Madhukar Chaturvedi told TOI "this tradition has been going on for generations and the whole Chaturvedi Samaj is involved in organising this event which is considered prestigious and unique in many ways.

 Hundreds of Chaturvedi Brahmins of Mathura Sunday evening thrashed demon king Kansa with well-oiled "lathies" before dragging his effigy to the Vishram ghat on the Yamuna bank.

Kansa was the cruel ruler of Mathura, killed by Sri Krishna, before his departure to Dwarika in Gujarat.

The "Chaubey Samaj" of Mathura enacts the high drama that climaxes the week-long festival organised by the Teerth Purohit Chaturvedi Samaj of Mathura.

The effigy of Kans is fixed on a mound near the Holi Gate. In the evening a procession of Sri Krishna and his brother Balram meanders through the main streets of the city before reaching the mound where the two kick the effigy which comes tumbling down. "This is a signal for the waiting pandas to pounce with their lathies on Kans who is humiliated, dragged through the streets to the Yamuna ghat where it is immersed."

Kans Mela is a unique event and participation is restricted to the Chaturvedi Brahmins famous for drinking Bhaang and consuming lots of sweets. "Before entering the war-zone to thrash Kans, the pandas usually drink plenty of Bhaang and feast themselves on sweets and delicacies in the bagichies and akhadas in Laxman Gad, Bhavant Gadh, Peepal wala Akhada," says Acharya Madhukar Chaturvedi. This is a fairly old tradition and "good to see lots of youngsters getting involved to make the show more impressive," he adds. 

The preparations begin after Diwali by the local Chaturvedi Samaj, members visiting Mathura from all over India and abroad for the special event.  The "Chaubeys" attired in colourful constumes , pagris and chandan on the foreheads, gather at the mound. "Once the effigy is toppled by Sri Krishn-Balram, the whole gathering starts beating the fallen effigy. The head is chopped, kicked and tossed, to insult and humiliate the dictator king whose atrocities knew no bounds." Once the demon King met his fate, there was joy and excitement all around, with fire works and celebrations. The religious procession with several "jhankis" tableux of the Hindu gods and goddesses went through the city lanes.

The celebrations will end Wednesday after the three-day parikrama of the three "Vans" (sacred forests of Braj), including Vrindavan.