In news– The festival of Phool Dei is celebrated in the Garhwal and Kumaon regions of Uttarakhand every year in the flowering season (March-April) for about a month to teach children to cherish & nurture nature.
About the festival-
- Known as the harvest festival of the state Uttarakhand, Phool Dei is an auspicious folk festival which welcomes the spring season in the state.
- The festival is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu month, Chaitra.
- During this festival, children would wake up at the break of dawn with the onset of spring to collect different kinds of flowers.
- They would place these fresh blossoms at the doorstep of every house in the neighborhood.
- The local belief is that placing flowers at the doorsteps of houses for the gods will bring prosperity and blessings.
- The groups of children, known as Phoolyari, bring flowers daily to the households and receive money and sweets in return from each family on the last day of spring.
- The red rhododendron flowers, locally called buransh (the state tree of Uttarakhand), is a spectacle in the season.
- The yellow flowers of pheonly, scientifically known as Reinwardtia indica, is also common and used widely during the occasion, as are mustard flowers.
- The celebration of Phool Dei indirectly rooted a sense of affection and protection towards nature, especially local flowers and trees, in our minds.
- On the last day of spring, the Phoolyari place flowers of at least five different colours at every doorstep.
Source: Down To Earth
