CHAPTER 15
The Month of Ka ̄rtik And
Women’s Ritual Devotions to
Krishna in Benares
Tracy Pintchman
Oh Krishna, go to Benares
Bring a packet of bracelets for the bride
Bring them in either your pocket or your purse
Climb into bed and gently put the bracelets on the bride’s hand
Oh Krishna, go to Benares
Bring a packet ofbindisfor the bride
Bring them in either your pocket or your purse
Climb into bed and gently attach one to the forehead of the bride
Oh Krishna, go to Benares
Bring a packet of ankle bracelets for the bride
Bring them in either your pocket or your purse
Climb into bed and gently put the ankle bracelets on her
Oh Krishna, go to Benares
Bring a necklace for the bride
Bring it in either your pocket or your purse
Climb into bed and gently put the necklace on her
Oh Krishna, go to Benares
Bring a packet of toe rings for the bride
Bring them in either your pocket or your purse
Climb into bed and gently put the toe rings on her
Oh Krishna, go to Benares.^1Those familiar with Krishna devotional traditions might find some elements of
the song text quoted above rather surprising. Predominant Krishna traditions,
for example, tend to associate Krishna primarily with Braj, a region just south
of Delhi on the Gangetic plain of North India. According to Sanskritic textual
traditions, Krishna grows up in the Braj countryside living among cowherds and