Phulera Dooj

Phulera Dooj is celebrated on the second day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Phalguna. This festival is observed with great joy and enthusiasm, especially in Mathura, Braj, Vrindavan, and the surrounding regions. On this day, married women fast to enhance love in their married life, and unmarried girls observe the fast to find a suitable life partner. They offer colorful flowers to Shri Radha and Krishna. This day is considered highly auspicious because it is free from all types of defects. If you wish to start any auspicious work, it is ideal to begin it on this day. For Krishna devotees, Phulera Dooj is indeed a special and vibrant day, celebrated with love and devotion. Applying colored powder on Radha-Krishna, preparing offerings, and singing devotional songs are cherished experiences for the devotees.

According to religious and cultural beliefs, Phulera Dooj holds great significance. This festival brings love and joy into people’s lives and increases the devotees' affection for Lord Krishna. On this day, devotees play a floral Holi with Shri Krishna and Radha Rani with devotion and offer them butter and sweets with love. Phulera Dooj is considered ideal for auspicious events such as engagements or marriages. The festival is viewed as a symbol of the love between Shri Krishna and Radha.

Worship Method: -

On Phulera Dooj, wake up early in the morning and complete your daily rituals, including bathing. Clean the temple area thoroughly. Place a red cloth on a platform and sprinkle Ganga water over it to purify the area. Place a few rice grains on the platform and establish the idols of Lord Krishna and Radha Rani, as well as set up a Kalash (sacred pot). Tie a sacred thread (Kalawa) around the Kalash and draw a Swastik symbol on it. Fill the Kalash with a mixture of Ganga water and pure water, and add a piece of turmeric, betel nut, and a coin. Place the Kalash on the right side of the platform, on top of the rice grains. Next, draw a Swastik symbol on the coconut, wrap it in a cloth, and tie it with the Kalawa. Decorate the Kalash with five mango leaves smeared with kumkum (vermilion) and turmeric and place the coconut on top of the Kalash. Finally, establish the Kalash in its place.

Decorate Lord Krishna and Radha Rani with fragrant flowers, and worship them with devotion according to your customs. Offer them flowers, incense, roli (saffron powder), rice, betel nuts, coconuts, fruits, and light a diya (oil lamp). Meditate on Lord Krishna and offer him a prasad of butter and jaggery. Recite the stories of the divine pastimes of Lord Krishna and Radha Rani, and read from the Gita. If time is short, simply chant “Radha Krishna” with devotion. Conclude with an aarti (ritual of light) and distribute the aarti to all present. Spend the entire day singing bhajans and performing kirtans dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha Rani. If possible, donate items used for adornment to underprivileged women, as this pleases Radha Rani and brings her special blessings to the devotees.

Story of Phulera Dooj :-

Once upon a time, Lord Krishna became extremely busy with the affairs of Mathura. Due to this busyness, he was unable to visit Radha Rani in Barsana for a long time. As Lord Krishna did not meet Radha Rani for an extended period, she became distressed and sorrowful over their separation. Seeing Radha Rani in such a state of unhappiness, the other gopis also became upset with Lord Krishna. As Radha Rani grew sad, the forests of Mathura began to dry up, and the flowers wilted. When Lord Krishna learned that Radha Rani was profoundly distressed by their separation, he immediately went to Barsana to meet her. Upon seeing Lord Krishna, Radha Rani forgot all her sorrow and became joyful. Her happiness restored greenery and vitality everywhere around her.

To appease the upset Radha Rani, Lord Krishna plucked flowers and showered them upon her. Seeing Lord Krishna, Radha Rani was so delighted that she also threw flowers on him in return. Witnessing this beautiful exchange, the gopis and cowherds present there began to play with flowers among themselves. Thus, from that day onwards, this festival has been celebrated as Phulera Dooj.