The boat festival marks the event occurred between Radha and Krishna before 5000 years at Rajghat in River Yamuna.
The Gopis often carried the milk products from Vrindavana and sold at Mathura to earn their living.
The event was artfully portrayed in the Bhakti Ratnakara[1] when Raghava Pandita was describing the pastimes of the Lord to Srinivasa Acharya, Narottama Das Thakura and Shyamananda Prabhu during in Vraja-parikrama.
Raghava Pandita says:
See this place with beautiful spots, where Nanda Kumara (Krishna) always wanders. Let us discuss the glorious pastimes of the expansions of Lord such as Krishna, Balarama and Narasimhadeva.
Reaching the banks of Yamuna, Srinivasa Acharya says,
“Krishna started the boat festival from this Raj Ghat with the beautiful Radha and Her associates to cross the River carrying pots of milk products. See the amazingly beautiful face of Krishna. On the riverside remained Krishna on a worn out boat.
Radha and Her associates urged to Krishna,
“Please take us to the other side of River Yamuna.”
Krishna rowed them down to some distance with great pleasure. Let us describe Krishna’s playful pastimes with them.”
When the old boat floated in violent waters, the Gopis said,
“You are troubling we young girls. O Madhava, You reap the seed of all troubles and You alone can make us cross this River.”
Krishna said,
“All food you carry will be drowned. Please throw away all you carry in water including your unwanted clothing.”
Even at this dreadful moment, Krishna was cutting jokes at the Gopis and clapped hands showing no worries.
The Gopis said,
“We desperately throw water from the sinking boat with our bare hands. Even if we escape from here, we will not surrender to You.”
[1] Sloka 1700-1712
This is a section of the book “Vrindavana Lila”.
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