The festival of Phulera Dooj is considered as auspicious and supreme day. This festival is celebrated in all regions of North India especially this festival is an important day in the areas of Braj, Mathura and Vrindavan. This festival is completely dedicated to Lord Krishna. Shukla Paksha Dwitiya is marked in the month of Phagun in Phulera Dooj, the Hindu calendar. Phulera Dooj falls between Vasant Panchami and the festival of Holi. Due to its special philosophy, which shows Lord Krishna preparing for the upcoming Holi, Krishna is held in temples. Phulera literally means ‘flower’ which refers to flowers. It is believed that Lord Krishna plays with flowers. Therefore, on this day, Holi is played with colorful flowers with Lord Krishna. This festival brings happiness and joy in the lives of people.
History
According to Hindu belief, Krishna’s lover Radha was upset with him as he was not able to meet her due to work in Vrindavan. As a result, flowers, cattle started dying. On learning this, Krishna immediately left for Mathura. He reached on the second day of Phalgun month and played Holi with flowers to enlighten her mood.
This day is also known as Abuja Muhurta, which means one can start any auspicious work without seeing the Panchang. The ardent devotees of Radha-Krishna get special blessings from them on this day.
Legend
According to a story the union of Krishna and Radha took place on this day. Lord Krishna was not coming Vrindavan to meet Radha because of which Radha and gopis got angry and sad. Due to which the forest of Mathura started drying up and all the flowers withered. When Lord Krishna came to know about the drying forest he went to Vrindavan to meet Radha. Due to the arrival of Krishna the forest became green and flowers bloomed again. Krishna plucked the blossomed flower and threw it at Radha to tease her. Radha did the same, after seeing this the gopis and cowherds present there also started throwing flowers at each other. Since then the festival of Phulera Dooj started in Mathura to celebrate the union of Krishna and Radha. The festival of Phulera Dooj is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Devotees worship Lord Krishna with full devotion and seek his blessings to lead a life of prosperity and happiness. People play with flowers, idols of Lord Krishna and Radha are adorned with flowers. Many cultural programmes and fairs are organized in temples of Lord Krishna. Devotees sing bhajans in praise of the diety to worship them. On this day, the idol of Shri Krishna is decorated with a white dress and is seated under a colored cloth and a mandap adorned with flowers.
Most important ritual of this day is to play Holi with Lord Krishna with colors of flowers. In some temples, a bit of color is smeared on the face of Lord Krishna, to mark the arrival of the Holi celebrations. Temples are decorated with lights and flowers and a a piece of colourful cloth containing color is attached to the waist of the idol of Lord Krishna depicting that he is ready to play Holi. After this, the ceremony of Shayan Bhog is performed and the colourful cloth is removed from his waist.
Special ‘Bhog’ is prepared on this day which includes ‘Poha’ and other special dishes. After being offered to Lord Krishna , this ‘Bhog’ is distributed among the devotees as ‘Prasad’. ‘Sandhya Aarti’ and ‘Samaj Me Rasiya’ are the major rituals of the day. Many plays and religious activities are carried out in temples depicting several aspects of Lord Krishna’s life and his Leela.
People call it the most suitable and auspicious day for marriage. Marriage rituals are performed in Krishna temples in many places of North India and marriage is performed in front of God with great reverence. If a person is planning to start a new business venture, then there can be no better day than Phulera Dooj. In short it can be said that the festival of Phulera Dooj is a symbol of how Lord Krishna gets back the affection and love that he receives from his devotees. Devotees on this day observe fast and worship Lord Krishna and Radha to seek their blessing for a happy life.
How to celebrate Phulera Dooj?
Many Hindu households across India, are decked with flowers and rangoli on this day. Delicacies are prepared to offer to Lord Krishna or in Krishna temples. The most popular preparation is poha, often distributed as prashad. The belief also says that Radha-Krishna fulfils one’s desires on this day. Devotees across Vrindavan usually shower flowers to express Radha-Krishna’s love.
– On this particular day, devotees worship and offer prayers to the deity Lord Krishna. The grand festivities take place in various regions of Northern India. Devotees adorn and decorate the idols or statues of the deity both in homes and in the temples.
– The most important ritual which is performed is playing Holi with Lord Krishna with colorful flowers.
– In the Braj region, on this particular day, grand festivities take place in the honor of the deity.
– The temples are also decorated with flowers and lights and the idol or statue of Lord Krishna is placed in a decorated and colorful mandap.
– A small piece of colored cloth is knotted on the waist of Lord Krishna’s idol symbolizing that he is getting ready to play Holi.
– After completing the ritual of ‘Shayan Bhog’, the colored cloth is removed.
– Sacred food (special bhog) is cooked on the day of Phulera Dooj comprising Pohas and various other special savories. The food is first offered to the deity and then the same gets distributed among all the devotees in the form of prasad.
– The two primary rituals performed on this day are ‘Samaj Mein Rasiya’ and “Sandhya Aarti”.
– There are various religious events and plays that take place in the temples, in which devotees participate and perform on Krishna Leela and other stories of Lord Krishna’s life.
– Bhajan-kirtan is performed in the honor of the deity.
– A slight gulal (color) is spread on the idol of the deity symbolizing the upcoming festivity of Holi.
– To conclude, the priests sprinkle gulal (colors) on all the people who are gathered in the temple.