TODO

The Story Behind Raas Leela

Once upon a time, when Krishna was 8 years old, it was right around Holi so everyone had an extra pep in their step. One night during a full moon, all the boys and girls from the village gathered by the Yamuna River. They were having a jolly ol' time splashing water on each other, when suddenly their play turned into....

A DANCE PARTY!

You know how we all had that one friend in college who could literally dance all night, while you and everyone else were ready to leave the club at 2am?

Krishna was that friend.

In an effort to keep everyone "on the dance floor," he bust out his flute and started playing. The feeling was the same as when your favorite dance song comes on.

That's sort of the effect Krishna's flute had on all the gopis. They were so enchanted by the melody, that they danced into the night. This night was the first of many raas leela Krishna had. Guess you can say he was the OG of getting turnt up on a Tuesday.

"Raas" comes from the Sanskrit word "rasa" which means juice, nectar or sweet juice. "Leela" means "act". Combined, raas leela rougly translates to "sweet act" (of Krishna), and is often referred to as the dance of love.

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Modi Toys is a children's brand of toys and books inspired by ancient Hindu culture. We exist to spread joy and to spark curiosity in the next generation through our innovative soft plush toys, illustrated children's books and free learning resources. Our weekly Theology Thursday series covers a wide range of topics rooted in Hinduism to help us better understand the origins of traditions, the symbolic meaning of rituals, and the stories behind Hindu holidays and festivals. The more we can understand "the why" behind this 4,000 year ancient religion, and make sense of it in this modern age, the greater we can appreciate and preserve our rich Hindu culture. While we take great care in thoroughly researching the information presented, we may occasionally get some things wrong. We encourage a healthy and open dialogue so we can learn together. Please leave a comment below or email us directly at support@moditoys.com to address any concerns.