Culture and Festivals
Pandavas, while staying in the palace of Virata, witnessed a festival named after lord Brahma. This festival is still celebrated in Pushkar, Rajasthan, very close to the ancient Virata Kingdom.
After three months had passed by, in the fourth, the grand festival in honour of the divine Lord Brahma which was celebrated with pomp in the country of the Matsyas, came off. And there came athletes from all quarters by thousands. And they were endued with huge bodies and great prowess, like the demons called Kalakhanjas. And elated with their prowess and proud of their strength, they were highly honoured by the king. And their shoulders and waists and necks were like those of lions, and their bodies were very clean, and their hearts were quite at ease (4,13).
Matsya was within the reach of Vedic religion. The Kauravas with the Panchalas, the Salwas, the Matsyas, the Naimishas, the Koshalas, the Kasapaundras, the Kalingas, the Magadhas, and the Chedis who are all highly blessed, know what the eternal religion is (8,45).
Read more about this topic: Matsya Kingdom, References in Mahabharata
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