Phool Walon Ki Sair a symbol of Delhi’s composite culture: LG

Tribune News Service 

New Delhi, November 16

Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung today flagged off the "Phool Walon Ki Sair"-a seven-day-long festival during which the Hindus and Muslims together offer the floral chadar and pankha at the Dargah of Khwaja Bakhtiar 'Kaaki' in Mehrauli while floral pankha and chhatra (canopy) is offered at the ancient temple of Devi Yogmaya, also in Mehrauli. 

Jung will lay the floral chadar at the Dargah of Khawaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaaki at Mehrauli on November 19. 

A delegation comprising general secretary and several other office-bearers of the Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan also visited the Delhi Secretariat and presented tokens to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Secretary KK Sharma. The delegation was accompanied by shehnai vadaks and members of different communities.

The event involves a procession, led by shehnai players, bearing floral pankhas, chadars and chhatras, which are offered at the temple and dargah.

Members of different communities and office-bearers of the Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan, accompanied by shehnai vadaks, reached the Raj Niwas this morning. The members presented a floral pankha to the Lt. Governor.

While receiving the pankha, the Lt. Governor said, "The Phool Walon Ki Sair is a symbol of the composite culture of Delhi and the pankhas symbolize national integration and harmony." 

"Festivals like Phool Waalon Ki Sair are very relevant in the present scenario when there is an attempt to create an atmosphere of hatred. The culture of celebrating festivals of all religions must be adopted," said the Chief Minister on the occasion.