Agra(IANS) : Devotees thronged the temples of Braj Mandal — a Hindu pilgrimage circuit that includes Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan, Hathras and Aligarh — to celebrate Dhanteras Wednesday even as markets in the region were decked up to attract shoppers.
Dhanteras, which is two days before Diwali, is a festival during which Hindus consider it auspicious to buy metal.
In Mathura, colourful lamps lit up the main market from Dwarkadheesh Temple to Holi Gate where a range of consumer products was displayed to lure customers.
Vrindavan was abuzz with Krishna devotees from both India and abroad making a beeline to various religious sites associated with Krishna folklore.
There were reports of a massive influx of pilgrims for the Yamuna Snan ritual two days after Diwali. Brothers and sisters take a holy dip in the Yamuna river to be free of the shackles of Yamraj, the Hindu god of death, whose sister is Yamuna.
However, the death of thousands of fish in Mathura and Agra due to pollution has created a problem for the pilgrims.
“The whole area is stinking of dead fish. Our vegetarianism has been fouled,” says G. Chaturvedi of Mathura.