A Night of Petals and Faith: Keonthal Celebrates the Ancient Dharadi Festival

Last night, the air in the Keonthal region hummed with devotion as communities came together to celebrate Durgashtami with a beautiful, age-old tradition: the worship of the Dharadi flower. This isn’t just any ritual; for the people of the hills, the blossoming of this wild white flower on the eighth night of Navratri in the month of Asoj is a sacred event, a direct symbol of Goddess Durga herself.

We spoke with senior citizens Daya Ram Verma and Daulat Ram Mehta, who shared the deep significance of this festival. They explained that Dharadi marks the joyful end of Navratri and the welcome arrival of autumn. It’s a time when families come together, their hearts filled with faith, to pray for happiness and prosperity.

The celebration is a heartfelt, hands-on tradition. As the sun rises on Durgashtami, people venture into the forests to collect the delicate Dharadi flowers. Back home, their hands busy themselves making bunches and garlands to decorate their household altars. Alongside Goddess Durga, they honor Bhairava, known locally as Dharada.

As night falls, the head of the family takes on a special role, gently draping the Dharadi with a sacred scarf. The home fills with the scent of incense and the warm glow of lamps as offerings of naivedya and homemade delicacies are made. This shared prayer culminates in a festive family dinner, often featuring beloved mountain dishes like Askali and simple, comforting dal-rice.

The elders shared a fascinating detail: in some Rajgarh villages, the ceremony extends into the early hours. At the break of dawn, around four in the morning, the Dharadi flower is ceremoniously released near a local temple or a bubbling water spring, while the Dharada is kept safely in the home.

This tradition is so deeply woven into the community’s fabric that it is only broken for the most unavoidable reasons. The people hold a profound belief that to disrupt this festival is a bad omen. And so, as the night of worship draws to a close, families don’t just say goodbye; they lovingly invite the Dharadi to return with the same joy and blessings in the year to come.