Mathura is an important city in Uttar Pradesh, India, located along the banks of the river Yamuna. It is the administrative headquarters of Mathura district. Its central location for caravan and trade routes has made Mathura a strategic religious, economic, and cultural hub since ancient times.
Mathura has a rich, detailed, and interesting history, with references cited in the religious texts of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. It is a recognized heritage city by the Government of India for the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme. Through the years, Mathura has had many different rulers, kingdoms, and dynasties. This has made it a melting pot of many different cultures with an identity that's diverse and all-embracing.
Mathura is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna and marks the festival of Krishna Janmashtami as a grand celebration every year. During this time, more than 3 million people travel to pay their respects and take part in the elaborate rituals and celebrations.
Vraja, Braj, or Brij are used to describe the area where Krishna spent his childhood and are also the Sanskrit terms for "to go, to proceed, to walk." The Braj Yatra or Parikrama, also called Vraja Mandal Parikrama, refers to the Hindu pilgrimage circuit to pay tribute at all the holy sites related to the early childhood years of the Lord and major events that took place during that period. Mathura is one of the cities included in the Braj Parikrama. The pilgrimage is most popular during the monsoon months, which correspond to the time of Lord Krishna's birth.
Today, you can go on a pilgrimage with the help of different groups that set up a schedule and take you to different sites, temples, gardens, vann (forest), and other places where you can learn more about our mythology, culture, history, and traditions from a long time ago.
Apart from the phenomenal gathering of devotees, the city is a favorite tourist destination for local and foreign visitors. The vibrant atmosphere, enthusiastic and welcoming locals, seemingly randomly scattered temples, intricately woven streets, and the innumerable eateries of every kind lure newcomers in seconds. The abundance of options can be overwhelming for first-timers.
Mathura ka peda is said to be the food that most people picture when they think of Mathura. It is believed to be Lord Krishna’s favorite and has been offered as prasad (or "prasadam") or a religious offering since ancient times. How fitting that the birthplace of Lord Krishna also saw the origin of his favorite sweet dish!
Mathura ka Peda is made with such devotion that those who savor the sweet from shops outside the many temples can feel the love, fervor, and magic steeped in the sweet dish. This rich, simple, and yet blissfully delicious sweet is milk-based, consisting of milk, powdered sugar (Tagar), dry milk solids (Mawa/Khoya), ghee, cardamom powder, and saffron. The patience and perseverance that go into preparing this roasted, caramelized wonder directly translate into the golden-brown delicacy. The peda is prepared by a slow and steady thickening process involving heating and subsequently frying the milk and milk solids with the sequential addition of other components. The resulting smooth, thickened mixture is then carefully rolled into the final product by hand. However, the intricacies and ancient "secrets" that distinguish Mathura ke Pede from other sweets remain something of an enigma to date.
Famous sweet shops that have made a name for themselves as "must-visit" destinations include Brijwasi Sweet Shop, Yadav Sweet Shop, Radhika Sweet Shop, and Shankar Mithai Wala; however, when in Mathura, rest assured that nearly every eatery will have this sweet dish on its menu.
Dharwad peda is another popular version of the original Mathura ka peda and is easily set apart by being darker in color and mildly sweetened in comparison. This too is a popular sweet originating from Dharwad, Karnataka. For those who have tasted one but have yet to try the other, be forewarned that picking favorites will be nearly impossible.
One need not physically travel to Mathura to savor its specialty foods. Online food portals, e-commerce sites, and delivery services are always on the lookout for ways to satisfy the craving and curiosity for these little wonders. Is it possible to compare eating peda in the comfort of your own home to the refined experience of sitting in one of the many byways or on the steps leading to the river and relishing a freshly prepared peda, as Lord Krishna most likely did centuries ago?
Such questions can only be answered the right way: see for yourself and bear testimony to others in doubt.