{"product_id":"bahadur-shah-and-the-festival-of-flower-sellers-9788125046189","title":"Bahadur Shah and the Festival of Flower-sellers","description":"\u003cp\u003e • Author(s): Mirza Farhatullah Beg, Mohammed Zakir (trans.)\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher: Orient Blackswan Pvt Ltd\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher Imprint: Orient Blackswan Pvt Ltd\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt was a queen’s promise that upon the release of her son from prison, she would present a ritual \u003cem\u003echadar \u003c\/em\u003ecloth and a\u003cem\u003e floral decoration \u003c\/em\u003eat the holy \u003cem\u003edargah \u003c\/em\u003eof Mehrauli. This procession and the offering of flowers that became an annual ritual for both Hindus and Muslims, came to be known as \u003cem\u003ephool valon ki\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003esair\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e,\u003c\/em\u003e or the festival of flower-sellers, and it continues to this day.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the days of Bahadur Shah II, the festival took the form of an exuberant celebration, an experience that brought the city of Delhi alive. In a narrative that captures the delight that once filled the hearts of the people of the city, when they came together regardless of their religious diversities, Mirza Farhatullah Beg brings this experience to the reader. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBeg takes us through the Mehrauli that was. We travel with him from the mango-grove and the cascading waters of the Shamsi Talab, to the busy bazars glimmering with mirrors, chandeliers and lamps; from the sweet call of the peacock and \u003cem\u003epapiha, \u003c\/em\u003eand the gentle drizzle of \u003cem\u003eBhadon \u003c\/em\u003erain, to the songs of Tirmunhi Khanam and Dildar; from the fragrance of \u003cem\u003eandarsa\u003c\/em\u003es and \u003cem\u003esuhal\u003c\/em\u003es frying in the \u003cem\u003eangithee\u003c\/em\u003es to the aroma of \u003cem\u003ekachori\u003c\/em\u003es and \u003cem\u003ekebab\u003c\/em\u003es in the shops on the streets; from the flare of the dancers' \u003cem\u003epishwaz\u003c\/em\u003e to the tinkle of her glass bangles … to the grand procession itself, accompanied by the \u003cem\u003edhol a\u003c\/em\u003end \u003cem\u003eshehnai\u003c\/em\u003e, by wrestling matches, kite-flying competitions, and the magic of fireworks lighting up the sky—a spectacle that continued well past midnight.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA vivid portrayal of Delhi's picturesque and happy past, this story is also reminiscent of the love and faith that the King shared with his people. It is a portrayal the reader is sure to relish through Mohammed Zakir’s lucid yet evocative translation that ably retains the flavour of the Urdu original.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Orient Blackswan Pvt Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":45616496705687,"sku":"9788125046189","price":484.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0666\/3471\/1191\/files\/9788125046189.webp?v=1769294947","url":"https:\/\/atlanticbooks.com\/products\/bahadur-shah-and-the-festival-of-flower-sellers-9788125046189","provider":"Atlantic Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}