Delhi: 300-year-old Phool Walon Ki Sair competition, began within the Mughal period for communal concord, cancelled this yr

Phool Walon Ki Sair, a Mughal-era competition identified for celebrating Delhi's shared tradition and communal concord, is not going to happen this yr. The organisers mentioned they might not maintain the annual occasion because the Delhi Improvement Authority (DDA) didn't grant permission for the venue at Aam Bagh in Mehrauli. They claimed the land confusion between DDA and the forest division stopped the clearance course of, a TOI report said.

Organisers blame authority confusion

Representatives of Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan, which manages the competition, mentioned the park was traditionally cleared to be used, however this time each departments referred possession to one another. “Uninterested in the wrangling, we determined to not maintain the competition this yr,” mentioned Vinod Vatsa, vice-president of the Anjuman.

Historic competition began in 1812, revived in 1962

Phool Walon Ki Sair started in 1812 in the course of the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar Shah II. It continued till 1942 earlier than being stopped by the British. The Anjuman revived it in 1962 with help from the Centre and has organised it yearly since on the park close to Jahaz Mahal.
“Since 1962, all govt businesses, particularly DDA, have prolonged their full help to us in organising the competition. Nevertheless, final yr, the Authority withheld permission for the jhoola mela at Aam Bagh regardless of okaying this web site in 1974. This yr once more, it did not give its nod. It is a loss for Delhi's spirit of cultural unity,” mentioned Usha Kumar, normal secretary of the Anjuman.

She added that conventional occasions similar to wrestling, kabaddi, portray competitions and the mela have been held on the location for many years.

Final-minute disruption final yr

“Final yr, we managed to organise a truncated model after DDA withdrew permission only a day earlier than the occasion. To keep away from a repeat, we started speaking to it this March, however to no avail,” mentioned Vatsa, 73, who has been related to the competition for 45 years. His father was among the many founding members.A senior forest division official mentioned Aam Bagh belongs to DDA and there was no latest communication associated to the competition. Officers of the Authority declined to remark when approached.The Anjuman mentioned air pollution ranges in Delhi additionally add uncertainty to planning out of doors occasions. It famous that the competition, initially scheduled for November 2, could possibly be moved to March 2026 if DDA grants permission.