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''' Braj Bhasha ''' is a Western [[Pahari languages|Pahari language]]. Along with [[Awadhi]] (a variety of Eastern [[Hindi]]), it was one of the two predominant literary languages of North-Central India before the switch to Hindustani (Khariboli) in the 19th century.

Brij Bhasha is spoken by people in the nebulously defined region of Vraja Bhoomi, which was a political state in the era of the Mahabharata wars. According to ancient [[Hindu]] texts such as the Bhagavata Purana, the Kingdom of Surasena is described as spreading through the Brij (also known as Vrija or Vraja), where the incarnation of [[Vishnu]], [[Krishna]] was born and spent his childhood days. This region lies in the [[Agra]]-[[Mathura]]-[[Aligarh]] area, and stretches as far as the environs of [[Delhi]]. In modern [[India]], this area lies mostly in northwestern [[Uttar Pradesh]], the eastern extremities of [[Rajasthan]] i.e. Bharatpur & Dholpur and the southern extremities of [[Haryana]]. Northern regions of [[Madhya Pradesh]] like Morena are also included.Today Braj Bhoomi can be seen as a cultural-geographical entity rather than a proper state. It is the vernacular of the region and boasts a rich culture and literature by famous poets like [[Surdas]], Bhai Gurdas and Amir Khusro. Brij Bhasha is very close to Awadhi, spoken in the neighbouring Awadh region.

Much of the Hindi literature was developed in Braj in the medieval period. However, today Khariboli dialect has taken its place as the predominant standard dialect of [[Hindi]].

In modern [[India]], Braj Bhasha exists as an unofficial dialect spoken colloquially by natives of the region of Braj Bhoomi, with great cultural and religious significance. Much of Hindi poetry, especially that of 'Bhakti' or devotional poetry is in this language. Some devotional poems for Krishna are also composed in Braj Bhasha. The pioneering Urdu poet Aamir Khusro, also spoke and composed poetry in this language. Famous Braj Bhasha folk songs or poems include Chhaap Tilak Sab Chheeni by Amir Khusro, and the popular devotional song, Main Naahin Maakhan Khaayo by Surdas. Braj Bhasha is also the main language of Hindustani classical music compositions. Braj Bhasha is not to be confused with Brajabuli, an artificial literary language developed by Bengali medieval poets under the influence of [[Maithili]] love poems of [[Radha]] and [[Krishna]] by the poet Vidyapati. Rabindranath Tagore wrote his first substantial poems titled Bhanusimha Thakurer Padabali in Brajabuli under the pseudonym Bhānusiṃha ("Sun Lion") at age sixteen.

== Geographical distribution ==

Braj Bhasha is mainly a rural tongue currently, predominant in the nebulous Braj region centred on Mathura & Agra in Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur & Dholpur in Rajasthan. It is the predominant language in the central stretch of the Ganges-Yamuna Doab in the following districts:

* Mathura
* Agra
* Aligarh
* Firozabad
* Hathras
* Etah
* Mainpuri
* Etawah
* Bulandshahr
* Noida
* Farrukhabad
* Kasganj
* Badaun

It stretches across the Ganges into the non-Doabi districts of Badaun and Bareilly and goes up to the foothills of Nainital at Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarakhand.

Besides Uttar Pradesh, it is spoken in the bordering areas of Rajasthan, mainly in the following districts:

* Bharatpur
* Dhaulpur
as well as parts of Karauli, from where onwards it merges into Rajasthani languages.

It is also spoken in the areas of Uttar Pradesh East of Uttar Pradesh, mainly in Mathura district and eastern areas of Palwal and Noida districts. in Madhya Pradesh it is spoken in the districts of Bhind, Morena, Gwalior, and Shivpuri.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}