28 April, 2010

Phoolkwalon Ki Sair


Phoolkwalon-ki-Sair, which is also known as Phool walon-ki-Sair is one of the most important festivals of Delhi. It is the Festival of Florists. Although celebrated across Delhi, it is majorly followed in the Mehrauli area of Delhi. The festival involves huge processions mainly sprinkling flowers at the temple of Jog Maya and the tomb of Saint Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki.


The Festival of Phoolkwalon-ki-Sair is generally celebrated in the month of September or else in early October. The Festivities mainly involve a procession that starts from the Jog Maya temple. Before the strting of Procession there is a traditional music played on Shehnai after which the Procession starts. Starting from the Jog Maya temple, traveling across Mehrauli Bazaar, the procession finally ends at the tomb of Saint Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar kaki.

Throughout the procession there is realm of Dance and Music that thoroughly accompanies. Kathak Dances, qawwalis, a blaze of lights, huge pankhas (fans) made of palm leaves, decorated with tinsel and flowers, and acrobats delight a vast audience. A huge procession, led by fire dancers, takes the flower pankhas through the streets of Mehrauli.

All these cultural programs are organized at the “Jahaz mahal” , which truly comes alive with the Dance and Music during this Festival.

The Festival over the years has gained great popularity. Earlier the Festival was largely celebrated by Hindus, which eventually has been warmly followed by Muslims as well.

The festival truly attracts a great number of tourists from far and wide.


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