Kesi Ghat is the place where Lord Krishna, after killing the Kesi demon, took his bath. In memory of this incident, an arati (worship with lamps) is held for the river goddess Yamuna Devi every evening. This place remains as a popular bathing spot in Vrindavan.

This place lies on the bank of the Yamuna. Krishna killed the Kesi

demon here. Once, Krishna and His

sakhas were grazing the cows at this place. Madumangala joked

with Him, “My dear friend, if You give me Your peacock feather,

sweet flute and yellow garments, then all the gopas and gopis

will love me and feed me delicious ladus. Nobody will even ask

You if You would like some.” Smiling, Krishna personally dressed

Madumangala up in His peacock feather and yellow garments and

handed him His flute and staff. Now all dressed up, Madumangala

began to strut about here and there.

 

At this time, the very powerful Kesi demon assumed the form

of a huge horse. Neighing and whinnying, he appeared there to kill

Krishna. Maharaja Kaàsa had instructed him, “Whomever you see

wearing a peacock feather on his head and yellow garments on his

limbs, and holding a flute in his hand, know that person to be Krishna

for certain and kill Him.” Upon seeing Madumangala dressed as

Krishna, Kesi attacked him with his two hind legs. Krishna quickly

came to save Madumangala and killed the Kesi demon. Although

the demon’s legs did not so much as touch Madumangala, he lost

consciousness just by the breeze created by the movement of Kesi’s

legs. After Krishna killed Kesi, however, Madumangala became

embarrassed. He went to Krishna and handed back His flute, peacock

feather and yellow cloth. He told Him, “I do not want any ladus.

My life is worth hundreds of thousands of ladus.” The cowherd

boys began to laugh. Even today, the memory of this pastime will

enter our hearts by visiting Kesi-ghat.