The demand for giving state status to the historical Yam Dwitiya fair of Mathura has again arisen. MP Hema Malini has written a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath requesting him to give it government recognition before the festival on November 11. Now the people of Braj are waiting for the government’s decision.
MP Hema Malini has mentioned the religious, spiritual and mythological importance of Yam Dwitiya festival in the letter sent to the Chief Minister on November 5. He said that in Mathura there is a centuries-old tradition of celebrating the festival of Bhai Dooj as Yam Dwitiya. On this occasion, a large number of devotees from different parts of the country as well as from abroad reach Mathura and take a dip of faith in Yamuna at Vishram Ghat. There is a religious belief that if brothers and sisters take bath together in Yamuna on the day of Yama Dwitiya, they get freedom from the punishment of Yamraj and Yamapash.
In the letter, the MP said that this historical festival, which has such wide religious importance and participation of lakhs of devotees, has not yet got the status of a state fair. Whereas this event is an important part of the religious identity and cultural tradition of Mathura. He has requested the Chief Minister to take special initiative to fulfill this demand.
The MP has also mentioned in the letter that the Municipal Corporation Mathura-Vrindavan has sent a letter to the Urban Development Department on May 22 requesting necessary action regarding granting state status to the Yam Dwitiya fair. Despite this, no final decision has been taken yet in this direction. In such a situation, Hema Malini has demanded from the Chief Minister to declare Yam Dwitiya fair as a state fair before the festival to be held on 11th November. Now the eyes of the people of Braj are fixed on the decision of the state government.