Dhwaja Arohan or Flag Changing Ceremony

Wherever you look at the Dwarkadish temple, you can not miss the huge fluttering flag on top of its Shikhara. You would also notice that there is a different flag every time you look at the temple. Well, the flag is changed 5 times a day – thrice in the morning hours and twice in the evening.

It is not just a change of flag, it is a huge ceremony. The family sponsoring the flag feeds all the Brahmins of Dwarka followed by elaborate Puja. They bring the flag to temple singing and dancing, carrying it on their heads. The flag is offered to the deity after which a member of the Brahmin community goes up and changes the flag. There is a waiting period of 2 years if you want to sponsor a flag change.

Such an important flag must come with lots of rules. The flag measures 52 yards or 40 meters – yes, it is a huge flag. 52 smaller flags are attached to the large flag representing the 52 officers of Dwarka or 52 sub-castes of Yadavas. Another theory says 52 represents the 12 zodiac signs, 27 Nakshatras, 10 directions, Sun, Moon & Sri Dwarkadish. Yet another theory says that it represents the 52 doors that Dwarka had once upon a time. Remember, it was also called Dvaravati or the city of beautiful doors.
The flag can be any color or a combination of colors except the black color. The flag has an emblem of sun and moon on it. There are special tailors to stitch the flags of the temple.

When the flag is being changed, everyone stops to look at the new flag flutter.

Festivals celebrated in this temple

Janmashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna, and is the most important festival of the Dwarkadhish Temple. Rukmini Vivah is an interesting festival held in March that celebrates the wedding of Krishna and Rukmini. Other festivals celebrated here are Holi, Ram Navami, Basant Panchami, Deepawali and Sharad Purnima. The temple is open from 6 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9:30 pm.

Photography is not allowed inside the temple. Digital devices have to be kept away in lockers before you enter the shrine. You can find many dharamshalas located around the temple.

Other Temples in the complex

As you enter from the Moksha Dwar, on your right you see: Kusheshwar Mahadev – A small Shiva temple with a Lingam a story down from the temple ground is the first temple that you meet if you enter the temple from the Moksha Dwar or Northern Gate. Dwarka was known as Kushasthali and I assume Kusheshwar Mahadev must have been its presiding deity. He continues to be worshipped even today.

Navgrah Yantra

On the other side of the entrance is Kashi Vishvanath Shivalinga, Gayatri Devi Temple along with the temple dedicated to Kolva Bhagat.

Around the main temple are temples dedicated to:

Aniruddha and Pradyumna Temple

• Rishi Durvasa Temple – Kul Guru of Krishna
• Amba Ji Temple – Kul Devi of Krishna
• Devaki Temple – Krishna’s mother. Her temple is bang opposite the Garbh Griha as if she is overlooking her son all the time.

Radha Krishna Temple

Beni Madhav, Purushottam Rai & Balram Temples.

Pattarani Mahal – this is a separate structure with a courtyard in the middle. There are small temples in all the walls dedicated to Jambavati, Radhika, Saraswati, Laxmi, Satyabhama, Mahalaxmi Narayan & Bal Gopal.

Shakti temple or Chalati Mata temple on the 4th floor that is inaccessible to the public.

Shankaracharya Samadhi in the form of Paduka.