Giri Varada!

Version: 5.0
Aug 31, 2014
Jay Sri Guru Dev! Jaya Sri Radhe Krishna!

Hare Krishna!
If you hear any devotional bhajans by Meeraa Baai, mostly you will hear a
line about Giri Varada. It is said that in her previous birth during the same time
of Lord Krishna she was married to a Gopa in Vrindavan.
When she was on the way to her husbands home after marriage, she
witnessed this amazing event of Krishna lifting Giri Gavardan the huge
mountain, but in an instant she was crushed by a boulder that rolled down. This
scene made such a deep impression in her heart, that when she was born again,
her bhajans always had a line about Krishna lifting Giri Govardan.
Lifting Giri Govardan is an amazing pastime of Lord Krishna when He was
just 7 years old. On this auspicious day of the celebration of Janmashtami and
Radhashtami, the children of Gokul Bhajan & Vedic Studies are going to enact a
portion of this pastime. We hope you will enjoy.
Thank you.
Character
Krishna
Nanda Baba
Priest
Indra
Narada
Yashoda
Samvartaka
Servant of Indra
Giriraja (Voice)
Balaram
Madhumangal
Subala
Sudama
Arjun
Radha
Lalita
Vishakha
Indulekha
Campakalata
Dance

# of Dialogs
20
17
17
16
10
5
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
7
6
6
6
0
Giri Varada Jaya
Giri Varada

Acting Child
Archita
Aum
Medha
Saketh
Janvi
Shreya Bhat
Shreya Donthireddi
Abhinay
Ritwik Pavan
Tejas
Pushpit
Srujana
Smarana
Giulia laurenza
Manasvini
Saanvee
Dakshayani
Giulia
Lakshmi Neha
Archita, Manasvini, Saanvee,
Dakshayani, Giulia, Laxmi
Neha

Notes

Choreography: Shreya
Bhat & Aishwarya Balaji

Drama: Giri Varada

Stage Props and Costumes:

1.

Props

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

Cooking vessels (3) - scene-1

Large spoons (3) scene-1
Container vessels (2) scene-1
Bricks for making 2 stoves scene-1
Baskets for Govardan Puja (12) ordered scene-2
Tanpura/Veena for Narada we already have
Paper mesh and cloth on top for above 12 needs some work scene-2
Stick for Indras servant, on which a spear is attached scene-3
(or should he just use a fan as we started the practice?)
9) Thunderbolt by plastic or paper mesh (see the pictures below for idea) scene-3
10)A decorated chair for throne
11) A side table with fruits
12)Flower vase (2) one for each side with tall colorful flowers
13)Bundles of cloth by Vrajavasis for last scene. scene-5
14)Flute for Krishna all scenes

2. Costumes:
Krishna Attractive yellow dhoti, embroidered kurta, crown with peacock feather, pink dupatta for the waist band,
flute and flower garland.
Nanda Baba Silk kurta, silk dhoti and shawl. with turban.
Yashoda Lehenga (ghagra choli with dupatta, please make sure it is not a scarf but a dupatta), nice jewelery
and their hair should be tied in one single braid.
Priest - Any color simple kurta and dhoti and turban with tikka.
Indra color kurta, dhoti with a turban. with lots of jewellery and a big crown.
Indras Servant Kurta , dhoti & a different turban
Samvartaka As dressed in the drama: O Damodara as Manikrava & Manikriva
Narada Saffron color kurta,dhoti and shawl. Hair to be tied on top with a flower . A white flower garland, tambura
hanging from his neck to the front and wooden flat kartal on his hand.
Radha & Gopis - Lehenga (ghagra choli with dupatta, please make sure it is not a scarf but a dupatta), jewelery
and their hair should be tied in one single braid. Flower garlands. For short hair please tie your hair in a pony tail,
since they will be covering the head with the dupatta. Crown for Radha Rani.
Gopas Any color kurta and dhoti and turban

Drama: Giri Varada

SCENE 1 (05:50)
D#

100

Projection

Play
Gokul..Every one is busy cooking for Indra Puja. Nanda Baba is supervising all activities of
all preparations with his friends. Vrajavasis are walking to and fro bringing vessels & many
things back and forth in hurry.. Mother Yashoda is busy preparing for the puja, at one side of
the stage. Nanda Baba and the Priest are standing at the front directing everyone. Some bring
food and puja items and show to him for his approval.. Gopis are helping Mother Yashoda..
(Screen Opens).
Palaces Food preparations and nice foods..The images should be slowly moving

101

Nanda Baba

O Vrajavasis! Hurry up. We all should be ready soon for our puja.

102

Priest

Yes Maharaj! We will make sure that Indra is going to be very happy this year!

103

Nanda Baba

This year, we should get a good rain.

104

--

(Gopis are helping Yashoda and making foods.. Krishna is coming from the side, and going to
mother Yashoda. Special music when Krishna is coming..)

105

Krishna

O Maiya! What are you all making?

Very nice smell! Lots and lots of foods!
Is it my birthday Maiya?

106

Yashoda

No lala! Do not disturb me.. I have thousands of things to complete for the puja..
Go. Go outside and play..

107

Krishna

Puja? What puja Maiya?

108

Yashoda

Kanniah! See, I have so many things to do.. Go and ask your father.
He does not have any work to do, Go and ask him.

109

Nanda Baba

(With curiosity, runs to Nanda Maharaja at other side.. Play a music for walking/running.)
Hurry up! We all should be ready soon for our puja.

110

Krishna

Baba, baba. Can I ask you something..

111

Nanda Baba

(Holds Krishna affectionately)..

Yes Lala! What do you want?

112

Krishna

Baba, why everyone is making so many things to eat?

Maiya told me these are all for a puja, not for me.
Baba, please tell me what puja is that?

113

Nanda Baba

Lala! You are too small to understand all these..

We will be going in bullock cart for a big puja with all these foods.
Why dont you go and play now?

Background

Drama: Giri Varada

114

Krishna

No Baba! I want to know what is that puja?

115

Nanda Baba

Lala, every year we do a big puja for Lord Indra.

116

Krishna

Lord Indra? Who is he?

117

Priest

Indra is the God of all the gods. If we worship him, he will give us the rain.

118

Krishna

Why do we need rain Baba?

119

Nanda Baba

If we get rain, there will be more grass.

120

Priest

More grass means more food for our cow.

121

Nanda Baba

More food for cows means more milk!

122

Priest

More milk means we become wealthy.

123

Nanda Baba

So, for the rain we are worshipping Lord Indra!

124

Krishna

Oh! But, it does not make any sense.

You dont need to worship to get rain! Rain comes by itself!

125

Priest

Lala! Dont say like that.

Indra is the god of rain. So we should worship him!

126

Krishna

Dear Panditji! You are the priest..

But, you too dont seem to have any intelligence!
Is there rain in the ocean?

127

Priest

Yes, there is.. A lot sometimes.

128

Krishna

Does the ocean worship Indra?

129

Priest

Bibbib No!.. No..

130

Krishna

Is there rain in the forest?

131

Priest

Oh yes.

132

Krishna

Does the forest worship Indra?

133

Priest

No it doesnt.

134

Krishna

Then why should we worship Indra?

We get everything depending on our karma.

135

Nanda Baba

So, worshipping Indra is not necessary?

Drama: Giri Varada

136

Krishna

Yes, baba, We should not worship Indra.

137

Priest

Hmmm, I think you are right. What should we do now?

138

Krishna

Instead of worshipping Indra, we should worship Giriraja.

Giri Govardhan is our life! He brings us rain.
He gives us the grass. He gives us the shelter.
So, we should worship Giri Govardhan!

139

Nanda Baba

(Looking at the priest)..

Panditji, what do you think? I am confused.

140

Priest

O Maharaj! your son is not an ordinary boy.

He put a nail right on my head!
I am fully convinced that doing Indra Puja is utter foolishness.

141
142
143

Nanda Baba
Priest
Nanda Baba

Really?
Really!
But what can we do now?
We made all the preparations for a big puja..

144

Krishna

Baba! We all should take these foods and offer them to Giriraj Govardan.
He gives us all we want..

145

Priest

Yes, I think Krishna is completely right!

146

Nanda Baba

Okay! Let us all go to Giri Govardhan and offer the puja to him.
(Addressing all Vrajavasis)
O Vrajavasis! Here is an announcement.. Please listen..
This year we are not going to do Indra Puja.
Instead, this year we will worship our dear Giriraj Govardan.
(All gopas enter the stage and pull Krishna. They all pull Krishna to for playing..)

147

Balaram

Baba! Are we all going for the puja?

148

Nanda Baba

Yes!
(Addressing all)
Vrajavasi, prepare all the bullock carts and load them with all our preparations.
We all will go to Govardan!

149
150

Sudama
All

Giriraj Govardan Ki Jay!

Giriraj Govardan Ki Jay!
(The screen Closes)

Drama: Giri Varada

Background

Projection

SCENE 2 (5:50)
Govardan Hill with green trees with flowers and lush green grass and caves. Birds are
chirping that is carried out by the light breezy wind. In the distance peacocks are dancing
and deers, monkeys are watching the scenes.
(Screen Opens)
Govardan Hill sceneries as above, and suitable music.

200

--

(Yashoda, Nanda baba, Priest, Gopis, Gopas everyone carries foods and preparations on
their heads and reaching Giri Govardan. Krishna is going with their parents leading. Use the
music to go around once and then position..)

201

All

Giriraj Govardan ki jay! (the sound should echo on the mountain)

202

Nanda Baba

O Vrajavasis.. We are all here to offer puja to our Giriraja.

(the sound should echo on the mountain)

203

Priest & All

(starts to offer, and everyone follows the priest)

Giri Govardana Maharaj.., Maharaj..
Tere Mathe Mukuta Viraja Rahyo

204

--

(all of a sudden, Giriraj appears.

Use background voice for Giriraj with special echo)

205

Priest & All

Giriraj Govardan Ki Jay

206

Giriraj (BG)

My dear Vrajavasis! I am very pleased with your offerings.

207

Subala

Giriraj Govardan ki jay!

208

Vishakha

Hey everyone.. look..!

Giriraja looks like our Krishna!

209

Indulekha

Yes! Look at the face!

Look at the color!

210

Lalita

I think that our Krishna is doing some trick..

211

Giriraj (BG)

(addressing all)
O Vrajavasis! I am very happy to accept your offerings.
However.. this food is not enough for me.. I am still hungry!..
I want morebring more.. Anyora! Anyora!

212

Priest

O Giriraja!
This is all we brought for you.
Please accept and be satisfied..

213

Giriraja
(BG)

Your affection to me is really great..

I am satisfied with all you have given.

Drama: Giri Varada

But, now I am very thirsty..

Please give me lot of water!
214

Nanda Baba

O Giriraja!
We did not know your thirst.. Please be satisfied..

215

Giriraja
(BG)

Alright! I will quench my thirst by drinking the waters from Manasi Ganga!
(He makes a loud noise drinking the Manasi Ganga - animation)

216

Giriraja
(BG)

(In loud and echoing voice from the mountain)..

Oh Vrajavasis! You are my life.. I will protect you..
(Now Giriraja disappears use sound techniques)

217

All

Giriraj Govardan ki Jay!

218

Nanda Baba

O Vrajavasis! We are very fortunate!

We have been worshipping Indra for years..
Did he ever give us even a single darshan?
Govardhan gave us darshan!
From now, we will worship Giriraj every year!

220

Priest

221

Radha, Lalita,
Vishakha,
Indulekha

Actually this idea of worshipping Govardan came from your son!

He is not an ordinary child! He is Lord Narayana!
Nanda Lal Ki Jay!
(Everyone now taking their prasadam back on their heads go round once on the stage and
leaves the stage)
(The screen closes)

Drama: Giri Varada

SCENE 3 (4:10)
Background

Indra Loka..
Lord Indra is seated in his thrown and servants are serving him with delicious foods.
There is dancing and singing Guards are standing at the entrance with spears

300

Projection

(Screen opens)
Indra Loka.. Inside of a Nice palace Nice music is playing from the dancing. Girls dancing
around Indra.

301

Servant

(Coming from a side rings a bell..)

O Lord Indra! May I come in?

302

Indra

Yes, you can come in..

303

Servant

(Entering and offering simple obeisance)

O Lord.. I have an urgent news..

304

Indra

Yes, . What is it?

305

Servant

Narada Muni has come to see you.

He wants to talk to you urgently..

306

Indra

Sure, please bring him.

307

Narada

(Narada Muni comes in and Indra gets up from his seat)

Narayan! Narayan!

308

Indra

(Standing, pays obeisance to Narada Muni)

O Narada Muni.. Please accept my pranams.. We welcome you!
(Servants sprays flower petals on his feet as he enters in)

309

Narada

Narayan! Narayan!
You look very happy today..
I thought you will be very sad for what happened..

310

Indra

Why Narada Muni? What happened?

You must be having some important news for me!
Please tell me.

311

Narada

Narayan.. Narayan.
I think you dont know that someone made you a fool!
Otherwise you wont be happy like this..
Now you are not even worth of a stone!

Drama: Giri Varada

312

Indra

No! I dont know. Please tell me..

313

Narada

Do you remember that the residents of Vrindavan used to give grand puja every year?

314

Indra

Yes, yes..

315

Narada

Did you get your puja this time?

316

Indra

Not yet. Otherwise agni dev would have delivered to me.

317

Narada

This time, instead of worshipping you, they worshipped Govardan hill, a hill, a big heap of
sand and pebbles..
Narayan.. Narayan.

318

Indra

What? They worshipped a hill?.. a mountain?... Not me? Why?

319

Narada

Because, they might have thought that you are inferior even to a heap of sand and stones..

320

Indra

How? Why? What happened?

321

Narada

A little boy in Vrindavan, called Krishna told them that they should not worship you!.
So they worshipped the hill instead.
Narayan.. Narayan.

322

Indra

(with great anger)

What? They insulted me!
They dont know how powerful I am.

323

Narada

I know how powerful you are.

What are you going to do?

324

Indra

Hmmm
I am going to teach them a lesson..!
I am going to destroy their land.
I am going to use my thunderbolt and my great power to flood Vrindavan!
Let us see how that small boy and the hill of stones can help them now!
Ha haha ha!

325

Narada

You look like very powerful now!

That is all the news I brought for you Indra..
You can now continue your enjoyment..!
(walks away from Indra..)
Narayan.. Narayan..

Drama: Giri Varada

326

Indra

(With anger, looks at his servant..)

Bring me the Vajrayuta - my mighty thunderbolt!

327

Servant

(Brings and gives the thunderbolt..)

Here it is Lord!

328

Indra

Where is Samvartaka?

329

Samvartaka

(In a hurry coming to Indra)

I am here ready for your order Lord!

330

Indra

O Samvartaka, my most powerful god of the clouds.

I order you to charge Vrindavan immediately!

331

Samvartaka

Yes Lord!
I will flood Vrindavan!

332

Indra

Destroy the entire Vrindavan.!

333

Samvartaka

(Charging fully, roars with force..)

Dont worry Lord!
I will take care!

334

Indra

Let that boy know that I am the God of all the Gods!

335

Samvartaka

Lord! There wont be any more Vrindavan!

Ha.. ha.. ha..

Indra throws the thunderbolt.. The cloud daemon roars with full power.. The thunder, lightning and all the loud
sounds starts. On the background, show the glimpse of flood..
(The curtain closes)

Drama: Giri Varada

10

SCENE 4 (2:10)
D#

400

Play
Background

Gokul, Vrindavan..
Due to Indras act, the entire Vrindavan is being flooded with torments of rain and thunder..

Projection

(Screen opens..)
Heavy rain, wind.. Use sound and visual effects. Especially use the lighting system to flash
lights with the thunder background..
(People run here and there shouting, crying. Note that Nanda Maharaj and Yashoda are not
on that. Sets of people coming from each side of the stage telling their dialogues and leave..)

401

Sudama

Oh! Our Vrindavan is going to be destroyed..

402

Vishakha

What is going on?

We have never seen such a flood..

403

Lalita

We are all going to be dead..

What can we do?

404

Subala

This is clearly due to Lord Indra.

405

Indulekha

We did not offer the puja to Indra, now he is angry at us!

406

Priest

Now, we have only one option to do.

It was Krishna who asked us to divert the Indra puja to Giriraja.
We all will go to him and ask what to do..

407

Indulekha

Yes, let us all go..

408

Priest

(Now Krishna comes to the stage with His parents with his flute.)
O Krishna! What can we do now!
We are in great danger due to the anger by Lord Indra..
Please tell us what to do?

409

Krishna

O Vrajavasis! Do not worry!

You all follow me.
Let us all go to Govardan.
(Everyone follows Krishna as he is leading all. Nandababa and Yashoda go with Krishna)
(Screen Closes)

11

Drama: Giri Varada

SCENE 5 (5:10)
Background

Giri Govardhan.. Every one is following Krishna with their cows and calves.

500

Projection

Heavy rain, wind.. Use sound and visual effects

(Screen Opens)

501

Balaram

Indra is very angry on us.

502

Krishna

But we have our Giri Raja to protect us..

Do not worry at all..

503

Yashoda

O Kanniah, you are so small..

What are you going to do?

504

Krishna

I am going to lift this Giri Raja as a big umbrella for all of us.
No rain can touch us.

505

Radha

O Sakhis, did you all hear what Krishna said?

506

Indulekha

Yes, he is going to lift Giri Govardhan!

507

Nanda Baba

Kanniah, you are kidding! You cannot lift Govardan!

508

Yashoda

Kanniah.. How can you do it? You are a tiny little boy!
O Narayana! Please help my son!

509

Madhumangal

Baba! We all brought our sticks.

We will hold Giri Raja with our sticks.

510

Krishna

O my dear Giriraj! Please come on my hand!

511

Krishna

(With music sounding at the back, Krishna uses his palm, lifts the Giri Raja and hold it with
his little finger on the left hand.)

512

Madhumangal

O friends.. Raise your sticks now.

We all will hold Giri Raja!.
(all the gopas use their sticks to hold Giri Govardan)

513

Radha

Oh! This huge mountain may crush our Krishna!

What can we do?

514

Indulekha

Govardan will be very heavy..

515

Radha

What can we do?

516

Lalita

O Sakhis! We will do this.

We pray Giri Raja to make himself lighter.

Drama: Giri Varada

12

517

O dear Giriraj!
Please be like a feather on our Krishnas finger.

518

Radha, Lalita,
Vishakha,
Induleka
Sudama

519

Yashoda

(Krishna is holding Giriraja like an umbrella with his left pinky finger, and everyone is
standing under. Mother Yashoda comes near Krishna with food to feed)

(Everyone pretends going under Giri Raja [front of the animated video projection])
Giriraj Ki Jay!

Kannaiah, you need lot of strength to hold, you should eat lot of food.
(Feeding Krishna with her hand, and Krishna is eating and holding)
520

[BG]

Krishna was holding Giri Raja for 7 days and nights. No one felt hunger or thirst. By the
heat generated by Sudarshan Chakra by Lord Shiva protecting all directions, not even a
single drop of rain fell down in Vrindavan. All the water evaporated. Lord Indra realized his
big mistake and came down to get forgiveness from Krishna.

521

Krishna

Dear Vrajavasis! All the rain completely stopped now.

Please come out now and I will place Giriraja back.
(Every one now gets out. With music sounding at the back, Krishna now places the Giri
Govardan back at the same place)

522

All

Giriraj Govardan ki Jay!

Nanda Lal ki Jay!

523

Priest

O Krishna!
You are Narayana, the most powerful, holding Govardan on a finger tip!

524

Madhumangal

What is this?
We were the ones holding Govardan and Krishna gets the credit?

525

Radha

Shame on you all!

You are all just acting!
We are the ones commanded Giriraja to be like a feather!

526

Radha, Lalita, We are the real Giri Varada!

Vishakha,
Not Krishna and not the gopas!
Induleka
Gopis surround Krishna and the dance starts: Giri Varada Jaya Giri Varada

527

THE END

13

Drama: Giri Varada