Raivataka, also called Revataka, is a sacred mountain near Dvārakā, the city of the Yādavas on the western sea. It was the place of the great yearly festival of the Vṛshṇi and Andhaka clans. The festival was a time of music, offerings, feasting and shared joy, and it brought all the great Yādava families together. The mountain is described as beautiful and auspicious. At this festival Arjuna, a guest of Kṛshṇa in Dvārakā, first saw Subhadrā, and the events that led to their marriage began there.

Site of the Yādava festival

The Raivataka mountain near Dvārakā was the meeting place for the yearly festival of the Vṛshṇi and Andhaka clans. Warriors, women, elders, priests and families of the highest Yādava houses all came together. Music filled the air, offerings were made, and the people enjoyed their shared wealth and strength.

Arjuna was there as Kṛshṇa’s honoured guest, and he took part in the festival. Here he first saw Subhadrā. The Mahābhārata tells this in the Ādi Parva, chapter 219.

Subhadrā’s circumambulation

After the festival Subhadrā was walking around the Raivataka mountain (pradakshiṇā) on her way back to Dvārakā. Arjuna stopped her chariot. The abduction, which Kṛshṇa had advised, took place on the road from Raivataka back to the city. The Mahābhārata tells this in the Ādi Parva, chapter 220.

The Raivataka festival at Kṛshṇa’s return

The Aśvamedhika Parva, in chapter 59, gives a second, richly detailed account of the Raivataka utsava (festival). This time it is the day of Kṛshṇa’s own homecoming to Dvārakā after the war at Kurukshetra, on his return from the Uttaṅkopākhyāna journey.

When Kṛshṇa arrived, the mountain was in the full swing of the festival. It shone with stores of rare and wonderful gems. It was hung on every side with golden garlands, the finest flowers, splendid cloth and kalpavṛkshas (wish-fulfilling trees). Golden lamp-trees blazed among the great waterfalls, so that the mountain shone as if by day even at night. Countless flags with small bells and bright colours waved in every direction. The mixed voices of men and women talking together rose like one unbroken song. Like Meru ringed by hosts of munis, the mountain was crowded with joyful women and men, and the noise of the merry and the glad, mixed with singing, seemed to reach the sky.

Stalls of sweets, garlands and cloth were piled up everywhere. The vīṇā, veṇu and mṛdaṅga sounded on all sides. Sweet drinks and food of every kind were given freely and without end, even to the poor, the blind and those who lived by begging. With Kṛshṇa himself present, the mountain, already full of celebrating devotees, shone like Devaloka, and its splendour is likened to the palace of Indra. The text says that this whole festival of the Vṛshṇi heroes on Raivataka is a place of great puṇya (merit) and of great puṇya-karma (meritorious action). From this festival Kṛshṇa went to his own home, to meet again his parents Vasudeva and Devakī.

Sources

Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, chapters 219–220
Mahābhārata, Aśvamedhika Parva, chapter 59