Phool Dei Uttarakhand

Phool Dei is celebrated on the first day of the month of Chaitra in mid March and on this day young girls conduct most of the ceremonies. In some places this festival is celebrated throughout the month with the advent of spring. During this festival young girls go to all the houses in the muhalla or the village with plates full of rice, jaggery, coconut, green leaves and flowers.

They offer their good wishes for the prosperity of the household and are given blessings and presents (sweets, gur, money etc) in return. In a few places even today they sprinkle flowers and rice on the doorsteps and sing:

phool dei, chamma dei
deno dwar, bhur bhakar
yo dei sei namashkar, puje dwar

Sei (a pudding made with floor, curd and jaggery) is prepared specially for this occasion. Folk singers sing the Riturain, Chaiti and other songs welcoming spring and are given presents, money and foodgrains.