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Friday, November 03, 2006

Flower Sellers: Ecumenicists of India


Delhi’s festival of flower sellers honors Hindu and Muslim heroes alike.


image

The President Shri K.R Narayanan receives ‘Pankha’

from the members of Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan

Phoolwalon Ki Sair, New Delhi, October 5, 2001

Photo: Government of India

Flowers are the best cement. So proves the Phoolwalon Ki Sair—or flower sellers festival—which began yesterday in Mehrauli, an ancient district of southwest Delhi. Half a world away, India is often portrayed as torn by tensions among Hindus and Muslims. But in fact, millions of people devoted to these two faiths live and work hospitably together every day in India.

This particular occasion ritualizes harmony, as flower sellers parade through the streets bearing giant pankhas (floral fans) which they deliver to the shrine of beloved Sufi/Muslim leader Kaki, to the Yogmaya temple, sacred to Hindus, and to local and national officials. Let’s spread the flowers out, share the honors. Let’s everybody be reconciled.

Indians of every station join the throng. B L Joshi, Lt. Governor of Delhi, inaugurated the three-day festival on Thursday “by presenting a floral ‘chadar’ at the holy shrine” of the Sufi saint. “This festival is a celebration of friendship and brotherhood among different communities of our country and I hope it continues for generations to come,” he said. 

Usha Kumar a member of the festival committee, stated, “By organising this festival we are only taking our cemented bond further.”

imageShrine of Sufi saint

Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki

The flower festival has some fascinating political overtones as well. Phoolwalon Ki Sair dates back two hundred years, “to the days of the Mughal Emperor Akbar Shah 11 in the 19th century. However, the festival’s popularity reached its peak during Bahadur Shah Zajar’s reign. Zafar was the prince chosen by the British to succeed Akbar Shah 11.”  Queen Mumtaz Mahal, however, convinced Akbar to name as his successor her son Mirza Jahangir instead. The British didn’t go for this.  When they objected, Mirza, “a spirited but spoilt boy… took a shot at the British Resident, Seton.” Though Seton only had his hat knocked off, Mirza was exiled.

Pleading for his return, the Queen swore that if her son were permitted back to Delhi “she would make an offering of a four-poster flower bed” at the holy shrine of Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki.  “In the olden days, the king used to go both to the tomb of Khwaja Bakhtiyar and to the Jog Maya Mandir and the Muslims and Hindus alike followed him. The famous poet, Mirza Ghalib, referred to the secular nature of the festival saying, ‘In this city, is a festival called the flower men’s festival. Everyone in the city from the nobles to the artisans goes off to the Qutub Minar. There they stay for two or three weeks. All the shops in the city of Muslims and Hindus alike stay closed throughout this time.”

Phoolwalon Ki Sair became a time of national pilgrimage to Delhi, celebrated with gusto until 1942. It was then, according to writer Amit Sengupta, that the British banned Phoolwalon Ki Sair, “afraid of its pluralist bonds of unity.”

imageMembers of Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan present pandha

to Lt. Governor B.L.Joshi, 2005

Photo: Tribune India

We’ve read in a couple of sources that Nehru revived these ecumenical floral rites in 1962. Of course, Nehru had the power to do so, but the real force behind its revival seems to have been cultural leader Yogeshwar Dayal. In his day, Dayal organized many historic dance, music, and film festivals, as well as the celebration of the Buddha’s 2500th anniversary in 1956.

Perhaps it was that happy, holy undertaking that inspired him to pressure the Indian government to resume the fall festival of flower sellers.  “In 1961, Dayal revived ‘Phool Walon ki Sair’, which had been stopped by the British in 1940 because it attracted masses from far and wide and was proving to be a potential unifying platform for Hindus and Muslims.” Born to affluence, Dayal was ” a member of the Anjuman-e-Sair-e-Gulfaroshan, an association of flower lovers and sellers.” He died less than two months ago, September 7, at age 93.

Though at one time the Phoolwalon Ki Sair lasted “two or three weeks,” the contemporary festival is just three days long. It winds up tomorrow. Happy wishes to our readers of all faiths—and none—in Delhi and across India.


Posted by Julie on 11/03 at 02:59 PM
Culture & SocietyPoliticsReligious RitualsSecular CustomsPermalink