Phuldei festival is mainly celebrated by small children. This is a famous folk festival of Uttarakhand. Due to the celebration of Phul Dei festival by children, it is also called folk children’s festival. The famous festival Phuldei is celebrated on the first date of Chaitra month. That means this festival is celebrated every year on 14 or 15 March. Phool Sagyan, Phool Sangrat or Meen Sankranti is celebrated in both the divisions of Uttarakhand (Garhwal division and Kumaon division). In Kumaon Garhwal it is called Phuldei and in Jaunsar it is called Goga. Solar calendar is used in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand. Therefore, in these areas the first day of the Hindu New Year starts from Meen Sankranti i.e. Phuldayi. Spring season arrives in the month of Chaitra. Nature at its best. Various types of flowers bloom in nature. The tradition of welcoming the New Year is found in all the civilized societies of the world. Be it the New Year Day of English society or the Losar festival of neighboring Tibet. Or Nairo of Parsis or Chaitra Pratipada of Sanatan Samaj. In the form of Phooldei festival, the New Year is welcomed by godlike children with beautiful flowers of nature. In which the first day is started with Phyoli flower.

Story of fhuldei

On the occasion of Phuldei, a special yellow flower is used. Which is called Pyoli flower. This flower blooms in the mountains in the spring season. There is a popular folk tale on this. There lived a princess in the Himalayan mountains. Whose name was Pyoli. She had fallen in love with a prince of another country. That prince married her and took her to his country. As soon as he left, the trees and plants on the mountain started withering. The birds started feeling sad. Because she was everyone’s favorite princess in the mountain. On the other hand, Pyoli’s mother-in-law did not allow her to meet her parents. Due to which Pyoli started feeling sad. While remaining sad, she fell ill. And one day Pyoli died of illness. Pyoli was buried by her in-laws in a nearby forest.

After some time, a yellow flower grew at the place where Pyoli was buried, which was named after Pyoli. And from that day the Phuldei festival started being celebrated in the memory of Pyali.

Method of celebrating Phuldei

In the Manaskhand Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, on the first day of Phuldei, the famous folk festival of Uttarakhand and children’s festival, small children pluck fresh flowers from the forest. In which special Pyoli flowers and Burans flowers are used. On this day, housewives wake up early in the morning and clean the door frames by coating them with fresh cow dung mud. On the day of Phuldei, early in the morning, small children go to every house in their neighborhood carrying flowers and rice in their small baskets (which are especially used for bringing flowers). And after offering flowers at everyone’s door, he sang the song ‘Phuldei’, ‘Phuldei Chamma Dei Daini Door Bhar Bhakar!! “Sing. And in return people give them rice, jaggery and money. Little god-like children put flowers at everyone’s door and pray for good luck and prosperity. On this the housewives keep jaggery and money in their plates Children prepare different dishes at different places with the blessings and gifts of love received in the flower basket/pot. The rice obtained from the pot is soaked. And the jaggery obtained is mixed and ghee/oil is purchased with the money. For this, children prepare local dishes called Halwa, Chhoi, Shai. In the Tibetan areas of Kumaon, a special dish called Saya is made from rice flour and jaggery.

This festival lasts for the whole month in Kedarkhand i.e. Garhwal division of Uttarakhand. Here, on the last day of Phalgun, children bring Yuli, Burans, Mustard, Laiya, Peach, Payyan, Semal, Apricot and various types of flowers in their baskets and sprinkle water on them and keep them in the open place. Next day, after waking up in the morning, the pistils of Pyoli go out with their buds in search of flowers. And while coming on the way, they sing songs. O Phulari Gaur. Mother’s bumblebee. Kyaulididi Phulkandi Gaur. “All the children, mixing Pyoli and Buransh flowers, decorate the nearby doors and thresholds and pray for happiness and prosperity. This program of bringing flowers and decorating the doors continues throughout the month of Chaitra. On the last day, children celebrate Let’s conclude.” In the festival, Ghogha Mata’s doli is worshiped and bid farewell. Children playing with flower pots are called Phulari. In Garhwal region, children make jaggery rice and offer it to Ghogha Mata on the last day. Ghogha Mata is considered a flower goddess. Only children can worship Ghogha Mata. On the last day of Phulari festival, children worship Ghogha Mata by decorating her doll and offering her offerings.

Some lines on the occasion of Phuldei festival

chala phulaaree phoolon ko sauda-sauda phool biraula he jee saaryoon ma phooleege hvoli phyonlee layadee main ghaur chhodyaava he jee ghar baun baudeege hvolu baalo basant main ghaur chhodyaava he jee saaryoon ma phooleege hvoli chala phulaaree phoolon ko sauda-sauda phool biraula bhaunron ka jootha phool na todyaan mvaararyoon ka jootha phool na laayaan na unu dharamyaalu aagaas na uni mayaaloo yakhai dharatee ajaan aunkha chhin painda manakhee anameel chautarphee chhi bhai ye nirabhai parades ma tum rauna ta ra main ghaur chhodyaava he jee saaryoon ma phooleege hvoliphul phuladeee daal chaunl de ghogha deva phyonlya phool ghogha phooladeee kee dolee sajalee gud parasaad dai doodh bhatyool ayoon holoo phulaar hamaara saintyaan aar cholon ma hola chaitee pasaroo maangana aujee khola kholo ma dhakyaan mor dvaar dekhikee phulaaree khaulyaan hola

FROM DIGI HUB SOLUTION FAMILY, BEST WISHES TO ALL OF YOU ON LOKPARVA PHULDEI 2024.