Jhulana-yatra (The Swing Festival) 2026

Hare Krishna Melbourne (ISKCON Albert Park) holds Jhulana-yatra, the Swing Festival, on six consecutive evenings from Sunday 23 August to Friday 28 August 2026, 7:00pm to 8:00pm nightly, at the temple at 197 Danks Street, Albert Park.

Each evening the festival deities of Radha and Krishna are placed on a beautifully decorated jhulana (swing) and visitors step forward in groups of families and friends to swing Them, accompanied by kirtan. The temple describes this as a rare and cherished opportunity: outside these few evenings of the year, only qualified priests are permitted to render this personal service to the Deities. Jhulana-yatra and Snana-yatra in December are the two occasions each year when the wider congregation can do so.

The festival recalls Krishna's loving pastimes with His topmost devotee, Srimati Radharani, in Vraja. A permanent jhulana commemorating the pastime stands at Radha-kunda in Govardhana, south of Delhi.

There is no admission charge and everyone is welcome. The final night, Friday 28 August, follows the temple's all-day Balarama Purnima programme.