Ghulam Qadir/Jaipur

Muslim artisans in the Dholpur district of Rajasthan have handcrafted the gorgeous costumes of Lord Krishna and Radha, that are being put on the idols in temples across the country on Janmashtami, the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna.

These costumes are sent to places like Agra, Mathura, and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

Not only are the idols dressed in new clothes but even small babies are dressed as Krishna on the occasion.

Uvesh Khan of Dholpur starts preparing costumes using five-colour fabric and embellishes these with brocade, pearls, tiny mirrors, and stones months in advance. This is the major vocation of these Muslims.

Uvesh Khan, Artisan, Dholpur

Dholpur has more than 50 factories each with seven to 15 artisans making customes for the Krishna and other idols. On the occasion of Janmashtami, Hindus like to make the idols in temples and their private shrines change the dress.

Although the artisans get wages while the profits are for their employer, they feel happy and proud that they are making the costumes of the gods. The costumes of Lord Krishna, Lord Shri Ram, and The Goddess, Sita, and Radha prepared in Dholpur are in huge demand across India.

The Muslim artisans of Dholpur thus are part of creating a major element of important Hindu festivals promoting the cultural richness of India and contributing to promoting the values of brotherhood.

On Janmashtami, thousands of cloth sets for Krishna and his consort Radha made by Muslim artisans of Mathura and Vrindavan are donated at the temples across Mathura, in UP.

As per estimates, dresses worth about Rs 300 crore have been sent to the wholesale markets.

People buying dresses and accessories on the occasion of Janmashtami in Lucknow, UP

Janmashtami generates a business of Rs 5 crore in costumes, crowns, accessories, etc.

According to Vrindavan's dressmaker Asfaq Siddiqui, the demand for dress decoration has increased in foreign countries this year in comparison with previous years.

Artisans say the overseas markets have demand for dresses made with embroidery in gold and silver threads.

Apart from people of Indian origin from Canada, America, England, and Australia, foreigners also like these costumes.

In ISKCON temples of India and abroad, the dress and crown ceremonies are performed with a lot of devotion and involvement of the devotees.

In the city of Mathura, a Muslim family has been making costumes for Lord Krishna for the past 50 years. The family's tradition has become an intrinsic part of the Janmashtami celebrations in Mathura.

Iqrar whose family has been designing costumes for Lord Krishna and Radha 50 years

Their vibrant and meticulously designed costumes, which range in price from Rs 10 to Rs 10,000, are sought after not only in Mathura but across India.

The demand for these beautifully crafted costumes draws huge crowds in the market every year.

Mathura reflects communal harmony through its festivals. Here, participating in each other's festivals is a common thing. Muslims enthusiastically participate in Hindu festivals like Holi and Janmashtami, while Hindus also celebrate Muslim festivals with equal enthusiasm.

This spirit of unity is embodied by the Muslim family that carries on the tradition of making costumes for Lord Krishna which started with Mohammad Iqrar's great-grandfather and has been passed down for generations.

An artisan making costumes with gold and silver threads

Iqrar and his family are deeply dedicated to their craft and feel a spiritual connection through their work. Iqrar said, "When we prepare Laddu Gopal's costume, it feels as if Lord Krishna is guiding us. I feel someone is directing me while designing the costumes. Creating these intricate costumes is a labour of love that requires many hours of meticulous work."  

"The process involves meticulous attention to detail to ensure the garments fit perfectly and maintain their beauty.”

Iqrar never uses a machine and all embellishments are hand-crafted detailed work. Everything is handmade with precision and care. Currently, around 20 men work here.

He says, “These costumes are in demand not only in Mathura Vrindavan but across the country."