After the battle Krishna went to pay his respects to Barbareek's head. He said that thousands of years hence Barbareek would be worshipped as an incarnation of Krishna and his sacrifice would be an inspiration to generations. The head was buried with due ceremony in a place known as Khatu.
At the ordained time a miracle occurred in Khatu. A particular cow would go to a particular place everyday, where milk would flow from her udders to the ground. The owner of the cow first assumed that the cowherd was stealing the milk. But when he followed the cow he saw for himself the miracle. The owner of the cow excavated the ground there and found a severed head. He gave that head to a brahmin, who began to worship it in his home.
The king of Khatu had a dream. He was told that the head of Barbareek was being worshipped in private. He was instructed to build a temple and install the head there. The temple was to be open to the public. The king complied with the instructions. Over a period of time the head came to be worshipped as Khatu Shyam. Khatu was the name of the place and Shyam was another name of Krishna. Hence Krishna's promise to Barbareek that he would be worshipped as an incarnation of Krishna was fulfilled.
Khatu lies in the north Indian state of Rajasthan. Devotees flock this shrine through out the year in the hope of getting their wishes fulfilled. However three occasions are special. One is an annual festival held in spring a few days before a full moon. The night is spent in singing hymns and dancing. Next day the devotees worship at the temple of Khatu Shyam. It is considered auspicious for young children to be shaved bald. Newly married couples offer prayers for a happy married life. Another important day is the festival of Vijaydashmi and the third is the anniversary of the installation of the head in the temple. This day has the largest gathering of devotees who celebrate the occasion by chanting, "Hail the one who surrendered his head."
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