Fuldol Utsav is a celebration whereby people all over India spend the days by showering others with coloured water, and vibrant, pigmented paints in the form of gulal powder. Fuldol, also known as Pushpadolotsav is celebrated on the day after Holi. Pushpa means flower; hence, this is the festival of flowers and colours. The idea behind the festival is to strive for God to shower one’s life with devotion and to symbolically allow God to become closer to one’s heart by always pertaining to offer bhakti.

The Swaminarayan Mandir in Kingsbury celebrated another year of Fuldol Utsav, on Wednesday 26th March, with a lovely arrangement of the Annakut feast, and the Mandir community all partaking in the performance of devotional raas. Tasty popcorn thaar, which the members of the community very kindly prepared, were given to all the devotees, after being offered to our divine Murtis of Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and Acharya Swamishree Maharaj. The disciples honoured our divine Murtis by performing Aarti and live music was played by our Shree Mukta Orchestra, while the disciples performed the devotional raas around the Lord’s Murti.

The music was very much inspiring for the disciples as explained in the tweet from @SGadiLondon when they commented that “When music is embellished with devotion, its strength is amplified #KingsburyMandir #Fuldolutsav #Raas #HappyHoli”. Most of the devotees found the raas very enjoyable, for example @JazRabadia tweeted “#KingsburyMandir #Fuldolutsav #Raas the #FestivalOfColours - vibrant colours on display - really enjoyed the dancing”, and to see the preview of the raas.

#KingsburyMandir #Fuldolutsav #Raas the #FestivalOfColours - vibrant colours on display - really enjoyed the dancing pic.twitter.com/xdgj0lNzTm

— Jaz Rabadia MBE (@JazRabadia) 23 March 2016

There are many versions that explain how this vibrant festival came to be. The meaning of this festival to the disciples of the Swaminarayan religion, in particular, is that this festival is about celebrating how our life can take new direction, and being forthcoming to wherever those new directions lead us, all the while, striving to remove our inner evils, which can drive our path away from our bhakti to God. Our disciples value this festival, for the reason that it symbolises a welcoming of a new beginning into our lives.