Phulpati: The seventh day of Dashain
The seventh day of Dashain, popularly known as Phulpati, is one of the most auspicious days of 15-day Dashain celebration.
Navapatrika, the nine plants; leaves of wood-apple and ashoka-tree, shoots of turmeric and white turmeric, sugar cane, a branch of banana etc, are collectively named Phulpati that is offered to the Goddess Durga on this day and is commonly known as ‘Phulpati Bhitryaune’.
Every Nepali household is seen busy offering Phulpati to the Goddess on this day.
In Kathmandu the tradition has it that the Phulpati is offered also to the Goddess Durga at the Dashain Ghar at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar- the old royal palace.
The Phulpati thus offered to the Goddess is said to brought from Gurkha Durbar, an ancient Durbar of the Shah dynasty in a hilly Gorkha district about 200 km west of Kathmandu.
King Prithvi Narayan Shah started this tradition after his victory over Kathmandu valley in his unification process. But these days, it is brough from Chhatre Deurali of Dhading districta, a neighbouring district of Kathmandu.
A day before the Phulpati four Brahmin priests fast to purify them to bring the Phulpati all the way to Kathmandu . The Phulpati is brought to Kathmandu in a palanquin escorted by the Brahmin priests.
When it reaches Kathmandu , the Phulpati is escorted by Gurju ko Paltan, a Royal Nepalese Army platoon, amidst a grand ceremony to the Hanuman Dhoka Dashain Ghar.
Royal Nepalese Army on the occasion of Phulpati organise a salutation programme to Phulpati at the Tundekhel, an open yard at the city centre. The King and the royal family, along with royal courtiers, his council of ministers and the foreign diplomatic heads, used to grace the function, which is very popular as Phulpati ko Badai- a volley of gunfire to Phulpati. People from far and around gather to witness this grand army show at Tundikhel. But from last year, prime minister is attending the ceremony as a de-facto head of the state.
Every successive king in the history of Kathmandu had some additions to the festivals. The Malla Kings of Kathmandu valley have added more to the festivals in comparison to other dynasty as they themselves were the devotees of the Gods and the Goddesses and tantra practitioners.
So, a day before the Phulpati, valleyites celebrate Pachali Bhairab Jatra at Pachali. Bhairab- the ferocious manifestation of Lord Shiva is worshipped, along with Goddess Durga in Kathmandu during Dashain. And the devotees throng Pachali Bhairab temple on this day.
Vedic philosophy explains the Goddess Durga as Adishakti- the universal feminine energy without whom Shiva- the Lord becomes Shava – a corpse.
The Lord of the lords Shiva himself can do nothing without Shakti- the Goddess. Thus the mother Goddess resides within every living being. She is consciousness, the eternal truth, the memory, senses, power and the mother of all beings.
Devi Bhagawat explains that she is the Baisnavi the consort of Bishnu, Saraswoti the consort of Brahma, Parviti, Kali, Bhadrakali, Raudri, Maheshwori the consort of Lord Shiva, Eindri the consort of Indra, and the consort of all the deities.
Devi Bhagwat praises the Goddess as Shailaputri- daughter of the Himalayas, Brahmhacharani, Chandraghanta, Kusmanda, Skandamata- the mother of all scriptures, Katyayani, Kalratri- the goddess of evil forces, Mahagauri, Siddhidatri-the one who bestows Asta siddhi (eight powers), Jaya, Bijaya - the victorious, Apara, Aparajita- the never defeatable, Jayanti, Mangala- the one who bestows fortunes, Kali, Bhadrakali - the ferocious manifestation of Durga, Kapalini, Raktadantika, Bhramari- the ever dwelling, Nandaja, Sakambhari, Bhima-the powerful.
But on Phulpati, especially Goddess Saraswoti and her representation books is worshipped.
One, who worships the mother Goddess on this occasion will be bestowed of victory over all the evil forces, negativity, and emerge victorious, will be protected by the Goddess.
Dashain, according to scriptures, is thus a festival to honour eternal feminine energy. So, every day starting from the first till the ninth day a girl child is worshipped as a manifestation of nine goddesses like on the first day a two-year old girl child is worshipped as Kumari, the second day a three-year old girl child is worshipped as Goddess Kali. Similarly a four-year old girl as Kalyani, a five-year old as Rohoni, a six-year old as Kalika, a seven-year old as Chandika, a eight-year old as Shambhavi, a nine-year old as Durga and a ten-year old as Subhadra is worshipped respectively on the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and the ninth day.
Irrespective to other festivals Dashain has no strict fasting and rituals to undergo for the devotees. Thus it is celebrated with great grandeur in merry-making mood.
The educational institutions remain closed and the children crowed at Ping -the swing and fly kites. Dashain, thus has become more a way of life in Nepali society than a religious festival.
Navapatrika, the nine plants; leaves of wood-apple and ashoka-tree, shoots of turmeric and white turmeric, sugar cane, a branch of banana etc, are collectively named Phulpati that is offered to the Goddess Durga on this day and is commonly known as ‘Phulpati Bhitryaune’.
Every Nepali household is seen busy offering Phulpati to the Goddess on this day.
In Kathmandu the tradition has it that the Phulpati is offered also to the Goddess Durga at the Dashain Ghar at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar- the old royal palace.
The Phulpati thus offered to the Goddess is said to brought from Gurkha Durbar, an ancient Durbar of the Shah dynasty in a hilly Gorkha district about 200 km west of Kathmandu.
King Prithvi Narayan Shah started this tradition after his victory over Kathmandu valley in his unification process. But these days, it is brough from Chhatre Deurali of Dhading districta, a neighbouring district of Kathmandu.
A day before the Phulpati four Brahmin priests fast to purify them to bring the Phulpati all the way to Kathmandu . The Phulpati is brought to Kathmandu in a palanquin escorted by the Brahmin priests.
When it reaches Kathmandu , the Phulpati is escorted by Gurju ko Paltan, a Royal Nepalese Army platoon, amidst a grand ceremony to the Hanuman Dhoka Dashain Ghar.
Royal Nepalese Army on the occasion of Phulpati organise a salutation programme to Phulpati at the Tundekhel, an open yard at the city centre. The King and the royal family, along with royal courtiers, his council of ministers and the foreign diplomatic heads, used to grace the function, which is very popular as Phulpati ko Badai- a volley of gunfire to Phulpati. People from far and around gather to witness this grand army show at Tundikhel. But from last year, prime minister is attending the ceremony as a de-facto head of the state.
Every successive king in the history of Kathmandu had some additions to the festivals. The Malla Kings of Kathmandu valley have added more to the festivals in comparison to other dynasty as they themselves were the devotees of the Gods and the Goddesses and tantra practitioners.
So, a day before the Phulpati, valleyites celebrate Pachali Bhairab Jatra at Pachali. Bhairab- the ferocious manifestation of Lord Shiva is worshipped, along with Goddess Durga in Kathmandu during Dashain. And the devotees throng Pachali Bhairab temple on this day.
Vedic philosophy explains the Goddess Durga as Adishakti- the universal feminine energy without whom Shiva- the Lord becomes Shava – a corpse.
The Lord of the lords Shiva himself can do nothing without Shakti- the Goddess. Thus the mother Goddess resides within every living being. She is consciousness, the eternal truth, the memory, senses, power and the mother of all beings.
Devi Bhagawat explains that she is the Baisnavi the consort of Bishnu, Saraswoti the consort of Brahma, Parviti, Kali, Bhadrakali, Raudri, Maheshwori the consort of Lord Shiva, Eindri the consort of Indra, and the consort of all the deities.
Devi Bhagwat praises the Goddess as Shailaputri- daughter of the Himalayas, Brahmhacharani, Chandraghanta, Kusmanda, Skandamata- the mother of all scriptures, Katyayani, Kalratri- the goddess of evil forces, Mahagauri, Siddhidatri-the one who bestows Asta siddhi (eight powers), Jaya, Bijaya - the victorious, Apara, Aparajita- the never defeatable, Jayanti, Mangala- the one who bestows fortunes, Kali, Bhadrakali - the ferocious manifestation of Durga, Kapalini, Raktadantika, Bhramari- the ever dwelling, Nandaja, Sakambhari, Bhima-the powerful.
But on Phulpati, especially Goddess Saraswoti and her representation books is worshipped.
One, who worships the mother Goddess on this occasion will be bestowed of victory over all the evil forces, negativity, and emerge victorious, will be protected by the Goddess.
Dashain, according to scriptures, is thus a festival to honour eternal feminine energy. So, every day starting from the first till the ninth day a girl child is worshipped as a manifestation of nine goddesses like on the first day a two-year old girl child is worshipped as Kumari, the second day a three-year old girl child is worshipped as Goddess Kali. Similarly a four-year old girl as Kalyani, a five-year old as Rohoni, a six-year old as Kalika, a seven-year old as Chandika, a eight-year old as Shambhavi, a nine-year old as Durga and a ten-year old as Subhadra is worshipped respectively on the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and the ninth day.
Irrespective to other festivals Dashain has no strict fasting and rituals to undergo for the devotees. Thus it is celebrated with great grandeur in merry-making mood.
The educational institutions remain closed and the children crowed at Ping -the swing and fly kites. Dashain, thus has become more a way of life in Nepali society than a religious festival.
