Fuldol Utsav is celebrated on Fagun Vad 1, the day after Holi. This is the festival of Flowers and colours. On this day Devotees place murtis of Bhagwan in a Hindolo made of colourful flowers, which is then gently swung by Devotees. The sentiment behind the festival is to ask God to colour one’s life with bhakti and to symbolically bring God closer to once heart by continuously striving to offer bhakti. 

Origins:

Once Shree Krishna and Arjun climbed Mt. Girnar in Junagadh, Gujrat. Shree Krishna delighted the devotees known as Yadavs with his divine Leela. In order to please Shree Krishna, the Yadavs made a beautiful Hindolo from fresh flowers. To fulfil their wishes, Shree Krishna and Arjun sat on the magnificent hindolo. The Yadav lovingly swung the Hindolo and from this day Shree Krishna and Arjun were worshipped as Nar-Narayan.

Bhagwan Swaminarayan Fuldol Leela:

In 1812, Bhagwan Swaminarayan celebrated Fuldol in Sarangpur on a grand scale. Devotees from all across Gujrat gathered in Sarangpur for this festival. He sprinkled gulal on all devote until all covered with colours. Then, the sadhus performed puja of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan and that evening Lord Shree Swaminarayan played raas.

While playing raas, Bhagwan Swaminarayan recited the following verses from Kabir’s poem as he stuck the dandiyas of Gunatitanad Swami with His own:

“Koti Krishna jode hath,Koti Vishnu name Nath, Koti Shankar dhare dhyan, Koti Brahman Kare jnan; Sadguru khele Vasant”

At this incident, Bhagwan Swaminarayan revelled that Gunatitanand Swami was that sadguru referred to in the poem. He further explained that he is the Purushottam Narayan and that Sadguru is Aksharbrahma. his ideal devotee, who constantly remains in his service, is Gunatitanand Swami.

Also during the Fuldov celebration, women devotees of north Gujarat expressed their devotion by singing a special prayer Bhagawan Swaminarayan: “Maha balwant maya tamari…” They ask Bhagwan Swaminarayan to protect them from Maya. Niskulanand Swami included this prayer in the Bhaktichintamri.