Phoolwalon Ki Sair  November 13th and 16th to 21st, 2015

“The Phoolwalon ki sair is a two hundred year old communal harmony festival for the citizen and by the citizens of Delhi. It was founded in 1808 by the Mughal Emperor Akbar Shah II and his Queen Begum Mumtaz Mahal. The entire city’s populace participating in the procession that initiated at Red Fort and wended its through the city to Mehrauli, where it culminated in the offering of a chadar of fragrant flowers to the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki, a disciple of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer. Besides, a floral chhatri was offered by the Emperor at the ancient Yogmaya temple close by. The citizens presented floral pa‎nkhas to the Emperor and noblemen at the court. The seven day festival saw the participation of common people of all faiths. Despite challenges posed by the British rulers, the enthusiasm of the people remained unabated, and the festival continued to be celebrated by the citizens of Delhi.

Post Independance, the communal harmony festival was revived by Shri Yogeshwar Dayalji, a prominent businessman, philanthropist and art connoisseur from Chandni Chowk. He established the Anjuman – Sair – e – Gulfaroshan a registered society in 1961. It received patronage from Pandit Nehru and all the States of India were directed to participate in the Phool Walon Ki Sair. The tradition continues to the present day. On  the demise of its benefactor  Yogeshwar Dayal in 2006, the members of the society elected his daughter,  Usha Dayal as General Secretary. The Sair now continues under her leadership.

This year the Phoolwalon Ki Sair is being joined by Indian Harmony Festival Trustees, members and volunteers. The Grand Finale will be an IHF presentation “the soul of Hindustan” a dance and musical show performed by the celebrated Kathak guru Shovana Narayan and her group. The sair will end with a grand finale at Jahaz Mahal with The India Harmony Foundation’s, “The Soul of Hindustan”, conceptualised by  Kulsoom Noor Saifullah, fireworks  and an all night Qawaali by three renowned groups of Qawaals .