Delhi: 300-year-old Phool Walon Ki Sair festival, started in the Mughal era for communal harmony, cancelled this year

Phool Walon Ki Sair, a Mughal-era festival known for celebrating Delhi’s shared culture and communal harmony, will not take place this year. The organisers said they could not hold the annual event as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) did not grant permission for the venue at Aam Bagh in Mehrauli. They claimed the land confusion between DDA and the forest department stopped the clearance process, a TOI report stated.

Organisers blame authority confusion

Representatives of Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan, which manages the festival, said the park was historically cleared for use, but this time both departments referred ownership to each other. "Tired of the wrangling, we decided not to hold the festival this year," said Vinod Vatsa, vice-president of the Anjuman.

Historic festival started in 1812, revived in 1962

Phool Walon Ki Sair began in 1812 during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar Shah II. It continued until 1942 before being stopped by the British. The Anjuman revived it in 1962 with support from the Centre and has organised it every year since at the park near Jahaz Mahal.


"Since 1962, all govt agencies, especially DDA, have extended their full support to us in organising the festival. However, last year, the Authority withheld permission for the jhoola mela at Aam Bagh despite okaying this site in 1974. This year again, it didn't give its nod. This is a loss for Delhi's spirit of cultural unity," said Usha Kumar, general secretary of the Anjuman.

She added that traditional events such as wrestling, kabaddi, painting competitions and the mela have been held at the location for decades.

Last-minute disruption last year

"Last year, we managed to organise a truncated version after DDA withdrew permission just a day before the event. To avoid a repeat, we began talking to it this March, but to no avail," said Vatsa, 73, who has been associated with the festival for 45 years. His father was among the founding members.

A senior forest department official said Aam Bagh belongs to DDA and there has been no recent communication related to the festival. Officials of the Authority declined to comment when approached.

The Anjuman said pollution levels in Delhi also add uncertainty to planning outdoor events. It noted that the festival, originally scheduled for November 2, could be moved to March 2026 if DDA grants permission.