Fulpati: A Sacred Prelude to Dashain’s Grand Celebration
As autumn settles over Nepal, the country enters its most cherished festival season; Dashain. Among the many rituals of this fifteen-day celebration, the seventh day known as Fulpati carries profound cultural, historical, and spiritual meaning. The word itself blends phool (flower) and pati (leaf), capturing the essence of the day when nature’s offerings are brought into homes and temples to honor Goddess Durga and welcome prosperity.
Ancient Roots and Royal Procession
The tradition of Fulpati dates back to the unification era of King Prithvi Narayan Shah in the eighteenth century. In those days, sacred plants prepared at the Gorakhkali Temple in Gorkha began a symbolic journey to the capital. Even today, priests and bearers follow this historic route, carrying nine varieties of plants, banana, pomegranate, rice stalks, barley, maize, turmeric, bel, ashok, and jayanti, collectively called Navapatrika. Each represents one of the nine forms of the goddess, from Lakshmi to Chamunda, and is believed to bring health, wealth, and divine protection.
The ceremonial trek traditionally moves from Gorkha to Dhading’s Jeevanpur and then to Kathmandu’s Jamal before reaching Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square. High-ranking officials, soldiers of the Nepal Army, traditional musicians, and cultural dance troupes escort the sacred foliage in a grand procession. Upon arrival, the Nepal Army fires a volley of gun salutes, a practice that once signaled the start of the royal family’s Dashain but now serves as a national tribute to Nepal’s enduring heritage.
Rituals Across the Nation
While Kathmandu hosts the most elaborate spectacle at Tundikhel and Hanuman Dhoka, the spirit of Fulpati resonates in villages and towns throughout the country. Families clean and decorate their homes, preparing altars for the arrival of the Navapatrika. Farmers honor their tools and the year’s first harvest, while artisans pay respect to Lord Vishwakarma and Goddess Vidhyadevi, symbols of craftsmanship and learning. Books, plows, sickles, and machines are placed beside offerings to seek blessings for skill, knowledge, and abundance.
Households also celebrate the growth of jamara, barley shoots planted on Ghatasthapana, the festival’s first day, which is now tall and ready for use in upcoming rituals. This blending of agriculture, devotion, and family gathering highlights the festival’s deep ties to the rhythms of daily life.
A Festival of Unity and Renewal
Beyond religious observance, Fulpati is a powerful expression of social harmony. Government and private offices close, markets bustle, and more than two million people leave Kathmandu Valley each year to reunite with loved ones in their ancestral homes. It is a time of homecoming when generations gather, exchange blessings, and share festive meals, reinforcing bonds that stretch across geography and time.
The story of Dashain itself echoes the universal victory of good over evil. Hindu mythology recalls Goddess Durga’s triumph over the demon Mahishasur, while the epic Ramayana celebrates Lord Ram’s victory over Ravan. Fulpati, as the seventh day, marks the turning point of Navaratri, intensifying worship of the goddess and preparing devotees for the climactic days of Maha Navami and Vijaya Dashami.
Relevance in a Modern World
In an age of rapid change, the persistence of Fulpati reminds Nepalese everywhere of their shared heritage. Even those living abroad join virtually or recreate the rituals in their own homes, keeping alive the lessons of respect for nature, family unity, and spiritual balance. The procession from Gorkha to Kathmandu is more than ceremony, it is a living bridge between history and the present, a journey carrying the prayers and hopes of an entire nation.
As gun salutes echo through the capital and sacred leaves are placed on household shrines, Fulpati signals that Dashain is in full bloom. It invites every Nepali, whether in bustling Kathmandu or a distant village, to pause, reflect, and celebrate the enduring triumph of light over darkness, prosperity over hardship, and community over division.
