New Delhi: Phool Walon Ki Sair, a Mughal-era festival regarded as a symbol of Delhi’s composite culture and communal harmony, won’t be held this year. Representatives of Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan, which has been organising it at Aam Bagh, a park near Shamsi Talab in Mehrauli, claimed Delhi Development Authority did not give permission for the event, saying the park belongs to the forest department. The department, however, told the organisers that the authority owns the land. “Tired of the wrangling, we decided not to hold the festival this year,” said Vinod Vatsa, vice-president of the Anjuman.The event began in 1812 during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar Shah II and continued uninterrupted till 1942, when it was banned by the British. It was revived by the Anjuman in 1962 with the Centre’s support, and has since been celebrated every year at the park in front of Jahaz Mahal, a Lodi-era retreat.“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, adding that wrestling, kabaddi and painting competitions as well as the mela have historically been organised at the venue.“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 one of its founding members.A senior forest department official said Aam Bagh belongs to DDA and there has been no recent communication in this regard with the locals or any govt agency. Officials of the Authority refused to comment when asked about the development.Saying Delhi’s worsening pollution remains a concern while organising such outdoor events, the Anjuman said on Monday that the festival, which was to be held on Nov 2, may be rescheduled to March 2026 if Delhi Development Authority gives its permission.
