Tossup

For this figure’s birthday, celebrants eat a khoyā-based sweet called peḍā from his birthplace. (-5[1])The Maṇipurī and Kathak classical dance traditions evolved from a round dance from Braj (10[1])(“brudge”) centered on this figure and his chief consort, (10[1])venerated together by bhakts like Jaya·deva. This male figure venerated by Mīrābāī (10[5])(“MEE-rah BAH-ee”) is (10[1])celebrated by drawing (10[1])baby (10[1])footprints (10[1])on doorsteps (10[2])during (10[2])a birthday celebrated in August or September. Competitors form human pyramids (10[1])to try reaching a hanging prize called a (10[1])dahī hāṇḍī on a birthday called his Janmāshṭamī (10[1])(“jun-MOSH-tuh-mee”). Dance-drama (10[2])reenactments (10[1])of this figure’s life called rāslīlā (-5[1])often draw on the Bhāgavata Purāṇa and depict the blissful dance of the gopīs of Vrindāvan and Mathurā (“MUH-too-rah”), who were led by Rādhā and this figure. For 10 points, ISKCON venerates (10[1])what flute-playing cowherd, an avatar of Vishṇu? ■END■ (10[1])

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