Pyoli or Fyoli

A beautiful girl lived in the midst of the forest along with birds, bees, butterflies, and shrubs. She was affectionately addressed by all as “pyoli” or “fyoli”. The sounds of the forest’s resident birds and the rustle of the breeze enthralled her through their sounds. Everyone took great care of her as she was the apple of everyone’s eyes in the forest.

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One day, as Pyoli dipped her feet into the clear waters of the river, she hummed along with a monal (a colorful bird residing in the high mountains and also the State Bird of Uttarakhand). She witnessed a reflection as it shimmered in the clear water of the river. Pyoli turned around to see a young man standing behind her. As Pyoli gazed at him, he hesitantly said, “I am very thirsty. Can I drink water?” 

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Suspecting him to be a prince, she asked with a tinge of apprehension, “You have come here to hunt, right?”

The young man did not respond as he had cupped his hands together to drank water. Receiving no response, Pyoli, feeling dejected, said, “You humans always want to destroy us — the forest dwellers — you never want to save us.” Pyoli observed that the young man was exhausted and he should be offered a place to sit.

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“Yes, I came here to hunt, but I have lost my way. My companions have gone far away,” the young man responded as he sat down. Mesmerised by the unparalleled beauty of nature all around him, he wondered: “How peaceful and tranquil it is here. I have never seen anything like this before. You are so fortunate to live amidst the boundless expanse of nature’s beauty, accompanied by the musings from birds.”

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Pyoli replied: “But you live in the palace! The forest is no match to the peace and comforts there.” A long conversation on the life in the forest and the palace ensued between them. 

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The young man was too tired to return to the palace and spent the night in a wide cave by the river. Inside the cave, the light of millions of stars continued to flicker. Silence prevailed. The young man filled Pyoli’s palms with the warmth of his love. Pyoli decided to spend the rest of her life with the prince and left behind forest, companions, and birds.

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She continued to weaken in the palace even though the prince fulfilled all her desires. She missed the entire universe of the jungle. No remedy could cure her. The young man continued to spend day and night by her side, but Pyoli’s aura kept fading away. 

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One day, a disheartened Pyoli uttered, “This palace was not meant for me. Forgive me. I couldn’t appreciate your illusion. I was just a wildflower, thriving there. How could I flourish amid the confinement of palace walls? The soil here isn’t meant for me. After my death, bury me on that peak. Make sure that you do not hunt any animals from today onwards. They are my companions.” Pyoli died as she uttered these words.

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The death of Pyoli drove the prince mad. He buried Pyoli in the same place where he had found her. As soon as spring arrived, a yellow flower blossomed there. The entire forest, in the jubilation of trees and birds, in the melody of the monal, named the yellow flower “Pyoli” (Reinwardtia indica).

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The reference to the flower of “Pyoli” is predominantly evoked in three main contexts: the month of Chait (March-April), the epitome of beauty, and the metaphor for yellow colour.

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The list of songs from Uttarakhand with reference to “Pyoli” is as follows:

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1. “Baan Fyoli” by Vijay Prakash and Meena Rana

2. “Pyoli Chunari” by Kishan Mahipal

3. “Kya Ji Bolu” by Narendra Singh Negi

4. “Phyoli Jawan Hogae” by Narendra Singh Negi

5. “Jakh Pingli Fyoli Si” by Udit Narayan

6. “Ghasyeri” by Sahab Singh Ramola and Akanksha Ramola

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