Two days after Janmashtami, the cantonment town of Ambala in Haryana turns into a sea of flower petals as Lord Krishna's palanquin is carried through its markets. The ritual isn't new, it is a nearly 104 year old tradition that locals call the Phool Dol fair, and it draws devotees from across districts of Haryana and Punjab every single year.
A colonial era ritual still going strong
Ambala district is usually associated with its cantonment and old colonial buildings, but this corner of Haryana is just as well known for its religious customs. The Phool Dol fair, held on the day after Janmashtami, takes place at the Shri Satsang Sabha Shivala Regd. Shiv temple in the Anaj Mandi area. Temple priest Dev Dhondiyal says the temple itself is over 150 years old, and the fair has been held here every year since British rule.
A ritual bath, 56 offerings and a boat ride
According to priest Dev Dhondiyal, the day always begins with Lord Krishna being bathed in panchamrit before being dressed in fresh clothes. This year followed the same sequence, with formal prayers performed afterward and a chappan bhog, an offering of 56 dishes, presented to the deity. The idol was then placed on a small boat and taken around a water tank inside the temple complex, a ritual that is always carried out just before the main procession begins.
Two palanquins, one shared procession
Once the boat ritual ended, the actual Phool Dol procession got underway with two separate palanquins of Lord Krishna joining in. One set out from the Shri Kailash temple in the Hathi Khana locality, while the other left directly from the Anaj Mandi temple. Both moved through the town's main markets, where devotees lined the streets with flowers in hand, and fireworks went off in several spots along the route, adding to the festive mood.
Priest Dev Dhondiyal said devotees welcomed the deity with showers of flowers wherever the procession passed. Large numbers of people were seen walking alongside the palanquins for the entire stretch. The procession reached the BPS Planetarium opposite Subhash Park, paused there briefly, and then turned back toward the Anaj Mandi temple. Once it returned, an aarti was performed and the chappan bhog offering was made to the deity once again.
Devotees who travel from far
What makes the Phool Dol fair stand out is that it is never confined to Ambala Cantt alone. Devotees from various districts of Haryana and Punjab travel specifically to join the procession, walk with the palanquin, shower flowers along the way and take part in the fireworks, making it one of the biggest religious gatherings of the year for the local community.
A tradition carried across generations
Anil, a 59 year old devotee, has been coming to this fair since childhood. He said the fair isn't just an event for him but a faith carried across generations of his family. Families like his wait all year for this one occasion, which is why a tradition well past its hundredth year continues to be observed in Ambala Cantt with the same devotion as before.
