Within the early nineteenth Century, across the time the Mughal empire started to fade, a rebellious prince started to show right into a thorn within the aspect of the British. All of 19, Mirza Jahangir fired on the then British resident and was exiled to Allahabad. His mom, Mumtaz Mahal Begum, made a vow: As soon as her son returned, she would stroll barefoot from the Purple Fort to Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki dargah in Mehrauli to supply her gratitude.
Her prayers have been answered, and the queen determined to maintain her promise. To ease her journey, it’s stated, the native folks scattered flowers all through her route. The flower vendor additionally made floral pankhas (followers) provided to the Kaki dargah and the close by Yogmaya temple. So common was the occasion that it was determined to be held yearly. The outcome was a week-long annual celebration known as the Phoolwalon ki sair or Sair-e-Gulfaroshan.
Over 200 years on, the custom continues and serves as a testomony to Delhi’s syncretic tradition.
This yr, the occasion kicked off on October 21 and noticed the organisers, Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan, presenting the ceremonial pankha, with an image of Goddess Durga juxtaposed with a picture of the Madina mosque, to Chief Minister Atishi.
Phoolwalon ki sair was instituted in 1811, writes writer and historian Swapna Liddle in her ebook, 14 Heritage Walks of Delhi. “…it grew to become an annual truthful sponsored by the palace…”
In 1942, throughout the Stop India Motion, the British stopped the competition. “Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru restarted it in 1962…The president of India and the Lt Governor of Delhi are ceremoniously invited with the shehnai being performed at their residence,” writes writer and historian Rana Safvi in her ebook, The place Stones Communicate – Historic Trails in Mehrauli, the First Metropolis of Delhi.
Pakistani journalist Raza Rumi wrote in his ebook, Delhi by Coronary heart: “(Phoolwalon ki sair is) a multicultural occasion that concerned Hindus, Muslims, mullahs and pandits multi function go.”
On Saturday night time, Jahaz Mahal, a Lodhi-era construction in Mehrauli, was all decked up with lights and marigold flowers to host a cultural occasion to mark the celebrations. Cultural performances and a splendid Qawwali have been a part of the occasion, a press word by the Delhi authorities acknowledged.
Talking on the occasion, CM Atishi stated, “’Phool Waalon Ki Sair’ is not only a competition; it has upheld the custom of Delhi’s centuries-old Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb.”
Asif Khan Dehlvi, founding father of Delhi Karavan, stated: “Given situations of strife world wide, the competition is extra related than ever earlier than. An event the place folks of all faiths and walks of life come collectively and have fun, what could be extra lovely than that?”
Because the final Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar stated: “Waqai sair hai ye dekhne ke qaabil, Chasm e anjum ho na iss sair par kyun maai’l”. “To have a look at this ceremony is such a delight; Why wouldn’t the celebrities stare upon this very ceremony,” interprets Safvi in her ebook.
