Phool Dei festival marks spring in U’khand, but hills see fading tradition amid migration

Bageshwar: The traditional folk festival of Phool Dei, which marks the arrival of spring in the hills of Uttarakhand with the Sankranti of the Chaitra month, was celebrated across Kumaon and Garhwal on Sunday. However, villagers said migration and the decline of farming have dimmed the vibrancy once associated with the festival.Traditionally considered a children's festival, Phool Dei saw youngsters carrying baskets of Pyoli (Reinwardtia indica), Buransh (Rhododendron arboreum) and other wildflowers which they placed on doorsteps, wishing prosperity and happiness for families. In return, they received rice, jaggery, sweets or money.Residents recalled that the festival was once celebrated with great enthusiasm in villages. "Children in groups would visit every house early in the morning and in the evening halwa was prepared from rice and jaggery collected by them. The whole village joined in," said Indra Dasila, a resident of Almora. "But over time, the charm of this folk festival has faded."Bhaskar Joshi, a teacher from Matiladhura in Tarikhet block of Almora, said he tries to keep the tradition alive by celebrating it with his students. "We celebrate Phool Dei with children in school so they can connect with their cultural roots. If children remain linked with the tradition, the festival can continue to survive in the future."However, villagers said shrinking populations, locked houses and reduced farming have dulled the festival atmosphere. "Very few people and houses remain in our village and the number of children has also decreased. The atmosphere isn't like before and the festival doesn't feel as enjoyable," said Sagar, a Class 5 student."Spring still arrives in the mountains. The yellow Pyoli flowers bloom and the red Buransh colours the forests. But the doorsteps that once welcomed those flowers are often deserted now. Many houses remain locked, and several have turned into ruins," said Villagers said households that once stored red rice and grains harvested from their own fields were increasingly dependent on govt ration shops. They said the decline of farming was not just the drying up of land, but also the fading of the self-reliant lifestyle that kept mountain culture alive for centuries. They said the growing threat of wild animals, waning interest in farming and lack of resources have forced families to depend on markets or govt support even for festival meals.For now, the fragrance of wildflowers still floats in the spring breeze, but villagers expressed fear that future generations may not witness Phool Dei in its once-vibrant form.