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==भारतीय-संस्कृत्यां यमुना ॥ Cultural Importance==

==भारतीय-संस्कृत्यां यमुना ॥ Cultural Importance==

===Mela===

===मेला ॥ Mela===

The annual Maghamela (bathing festival) and the Kumbhamela held once in twelve years during January-February, attract millions of devotees.  

The annual Maghamela (bathing festival) and the Kumbhamela held once in twelve years during January-February, attract millions of devotees.  

===Yama-Dvitiya===

===यमद्वितीया ॥ Yama-Dvitiya===

Yamuna is called as Surya-tanaya because she was born from the chest of Surya (the Sun-god) in the womb of Sanjna Devi. Yama, the God of death was her twin-brother, thus, they both are siblings and so, she is also called as Shamana-svasa. She is said to have invited her brother Yama to her house on the Kartika-shukla-dvitiya day (during the Dipavali festival, usually in November) and honoured him with dinner and presents. This day is known as Yama-dvitiya or Bhratri-dvitiya. On this day, sisters invite their brothers for sumptuous meals and exchange presents. Hence, a bath in Yamuna river on this day is considered extremely auspicious.

Yamuna is called as Surya-tanaya because she was born from the chest of Surya (the Sun-god) in the womb of Sanjna Devi. Yama, the God of death was her twin-brother, thus, they both are siblings and so, she is also called as Shamana-svasa. She is said to have invited her brother Yama to her house on the Kartika-shukla-dvitiya day (during the Dipavali festival, usually in November) and honoured him with dinner and presents. This day is known as Yama-dvitiya or Bhratri-dvitiya. On this day, sisters invite their brothers for sumptuous meals and exchange presents. Hence, a bath in Yamuna river on this day is considered extremely auspicious.

===Yamuna Chath/ Jayanti===

===यमुनाजयन्तिः ॥ Yamuna Chath / Jayanti===

Yamuna Chath is celebrated on the sixth day of the bright half of the lunar month ''chaitra'', which usually falls on April in solar calendar. This festival known as Yamuna Jayanti, is considered to be the celebration of Yamuna’s birthday. On this day, women step forward to the river to offer sweets, red ''sindur'' powder and uncooked rice. Finally they offer a red sari along with necklaces, bangles, a comb, ''bindis'', and a mirror to the Goddess Yamuna, laying them on the sand at the edge of the water. Later, the priests bring those items back to those women with the singing of the ‘Yamuna-ashtakam,’ written by Vallabhacharya in the sixteenth century. After completing the hymn, they dress the river Goddess with the sari that stretches from shore to shore, with the aid of eight wooden boats.<ref name=":0" />  

Yamuna Chath is celebrated on the sixth day of the bright half of the lunar month ''chaitra'', which usually falls on April in solar calendar. This festival known as Yamuna Jayanti, is considered to be the celebration of Yamuna’s birthday. On this day, women step forward to the river to offer sweets, red ''sindur'' powder and uncooked rice. Finally they offer a red sari along with necklaces, bangles, a comb, ''bindis'', and a mirror to the Goddess Yamuna, laying them on the sand at the edge of the water. Later, the priests bring those items back to those women with the singing of the ‘Yamuna-ashtakam,’ written by Vallabhacharya in the sixteenth century. After completing the hymn, they dress the river Goddess with the sari that stretches from shore to shore, with the aid of eight wooden boats.<ref name=":0" />