The much-awaited Phool Bangla festival at the famous Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan is set to begin on April 8, 2025, and will continue until July 24, 2025, marking 108 days of divine floral celebrations.
The festival begins from Ekadashi of the Chaitra month and concludes on Amavasya of the Sawan month, following the traditional Hindu calendar. During this time, the temple is transformed into a magnificent floral haven, attracting thousands of devotees and tourists alike.
The Phool Bangla festival is celebrated to provide relief to Lord Banke Bihari from the scorching summer heat. As temperatures rise in the region, the temple’s interiors are cooled and beautified with elaborate decorations made entirely of fragrant flowers.
According to Rajbhog Sevaadhikari Gyanendra Kishore Goswami, the temple is adorned daily with mogra, rose, chameli, bela, marigold, carnation, lily, lotus, and orchids, among others. These flowers are sourced from nearby cities like Ajmer, Kanpur, and Kannauj, with fragrant blooms such as rose and mogra being specially brought in from Delhi, as they are favourites of Lord Banke Bihari.
History and Tradition
The tradition of Phool Bangla dates back to the time of Paramhans Goswami, who began decorating the temple with flowers and vetiver khus curtains to protect the deity from heat. Before the introduction of electric lights, only earthen lamps (diyas) were used, which intensified the heat inside the temple. The use of flowers helped cool the temple atmosphere and eventually became a daily ritual during the summer months.
Now, the floral decorations are done twice a day, adding to the temple’s grandeur and spiritual ambiance.
Extended Darshan and Offerings
Earlier, floral darshan was only available in the evening hours, but a Supreme Court order in July 2016 permitted devotees to enjoy the divine beauty of the Phool Bangla decorations in the morning as well.
Alongside the flower offerings, the deity is also served seasonal fruits like mango, banana, and litchi, and traditional cooling drinks like thandai as part of the prasad. These offerings are symbolic of easing the summer heat for the deity.
The temple’s spiritual and environmental consciousness extends even after the festivities. Flowers used in the decorations are sent to Ashray Sadan, a shelter home for widows, where they are processed and repurposed into incense sticks, promoting sustainability and supporting a noble cause.
Security and Arrangements
To manage the large number of visitors during the 108-day festival, the Mathura district administration has ensured tight security arrangements under the supervision of a magistrate, as confirmed by District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh.
The Phool Bangla festival is not just a ritual, but a living tradition of devotion, art, and compassion. Whether you're a spiritual seeker or an admirer of cultural heritage, witnessing the floral splendour of Banke Bihari Temple during these summer months is truly an unforgettable experience.
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