Seventh day of Dashain, ‘Fulpati’ being observed across nation

Kathmandu, 21 Oct: On the occasion of the Bada Dashain festival, the Fulpati is being taken into the homes as per tradition throughout the country today.

Fulpati, an assortment of flowers, leaves and fruits of different plants considered auspicious, is anointed at the Dashain Ghar on the seventh day of the Bada Dashain festival.

The Gurujyuko platoon, the Nepal Army, the Nepal Police, and high-ranking officials of Armed Police Force Nepal and civil service, the Asha Gurja team, band music, panchebaja, decorated kalsyoulis, and a procession along with cultural pageantry leave for Hanuman Dhoka from Jamal with the Phulpati.

It does not require an auspicious hour to take Fulpati into homes as per the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee.

Though the Dashain festival begins from Ghatasthapana, the festival sees special fervor from the day of Fulpati.

Likewise, a palanquin containing the Phulpati is being sent from the Dashainghar in Gorkha Durbar to be carried all the way to Hanumandhoka Durbar in Kathmandu.

The Phulpati is carried to Kathmandu as per the Vedic rites to be anointed at the Dashain Ghar, Hanumandhoka Durbar in line with the time-honoured tradition.

The tradition traces its root from the time the then King of Gorkha, Prithvi Narayan Shah, started his rule from the Hanumandhoka Durbar in Kathmandu.

From then onwards, a palanquin bearing the Phulpati is dispatched each year from Gorkha Dashainghar on the seventh day of the Bada Dashain festival, the biggest festival of the Nepalis.

The assistants of the Gorkha Durbar carry the Phulpati up to a place called Phulpati Chautara at Satipipal and from there it is carried up to Kathmandu.

All government as well as private offices close down from today encouraging people to go back to their respective ancestral homes and take blessings from Durga Bhawani as well as their elders.
(RSS)