Today is Fulpati; President observes celebration at Tundikhel
Hindu devotees across the country are observing the day of Fulpati on
Monday amidst religious ceremonies and festivities.
On the day of Fulpati, the seventh day of Navaratri, an assortment of
sacred shrubs that are offered to Goddess Durga is taken inside the
Dashain Ghar in Hanumandhoka.
The Fulpati, the procession bearing the jamara and other items necessary
for the tika, is carried on foot from Gorkha, about a 169 kilometres away
from Kathmandu, all the way up to Dhading district from where six Brahmins
carry them to Jamal, Kathmandu. From Jamal, the Phulpati filled with holy
water, banana stalks, jamara and sugar cane tied with red cloth is carried
by Brahmans to the Dashain Ghar today.
A military parade is also organised at Hanuman Dhoka palace.
By the time the function ends the Fulpati is already taken inside the
Dashain ghar in Hanuman Dhoka Palace. With this the Dashain feasting
starts. A band associated with the army also plays its music and goes
through the old quarter of Kathmandu on this day.
Fulpati also marks the beginning of official weeklong Dashain holidays in
government offices.
Meanwhile, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav attended a traditional Fulpati
function organised by Nepal Army at Tundikhel today.
Yadav was given guard of honour during the function which was attended by
Vice-President Parmananda Jha, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal,
Constituent Assembly chairman Subas Nemwang and ministers. A special army
parade was staged and gunshots fired as part of the Fulpati function of
the army. nepalnews.com Oct 06 07
