Phooldei is celebrated on the first day in the month of Chaitra in mid-March. On this day, young girls conduct most of the ceremonies. In some places it is celebrated throughout the month with the advent of spring. The festival is celebrated both in Kumoun and Garhwal region of Uttrakhand. During this day young girls of the houses visit the neighborhood or the village with baskets full of rice, jaggery, coconut, greens leaves and flowers. Girls offer their wishes for the wealth of household; they get sweets, jaggery and money in return. Girls sings “Phool dei chhama dei, Daini dwar, Bhar bhakar,Ye dyeli kain namaskar” (May this dour be full of flowers and be auspicious. Protect everyone and and never let the food stocks in the houses become empty.) Along with the girls, their younger brothers also go to celebrate Phooldei. All the children take a bath, put on new clothes and go around the whole neighborhood and villages. I have many child hood memories. After the celebration when we used to collect lot of jaggry and rice which we received from neighbours. Then make pudding by mixing rice and jaggery and we all use to eat with great love. The money received was used as our pocket money.
In her frock
There are Flakes of laughter,
With the arrival of chaitra,
Phulari,
Becoming a Fyuinly, buransh,
The smell starts in the courtyard.
In their closed fists
Magic happens,
Who upon the arrival of chaitra
Falgun starts flying.
They put their dreams in bunches
Decorate and tie it to the door
Then in the sky
Her Phooldei songs are heard.
Phulari knows that
One day this courtyard,
With Vine of challenges
Will say good bye to them.
That’s why they put a basket,
Full of flowers & dedicate them,
As long as the flowers,
Keep blooming in the world,
Their courtyard will continue to
Smell with fragrance.
When in the gates
Himwant flowers &
Fhulari laughing gleefully
Because both are alike.
Neelam Pandey
