Phulpati, meaning "sacred flowers and leaves," falls on the seventh day of Dashain and marks the arrival of a royal bouquet carried in a palanquin from the Gorkha Palace to Kathmandu's Hanuman Dhoka, a tradition dating to the Shah dynasty. The procession traditionally includes nine types of sacred plants — banana, jamara, wood apple and others — representing the nine Durgas, and its arrival in the capital is observed with military ceremony and gun salutes. At the household level, families bring fresh flowers and leaves into the worship room, intensifying their nine-day ritual in preparation for the climactic days of Ashtami and Navami.
The highlight of Phulpati is the traditional procession where the 'Phulpati' (an assortment of sacred shrubs, leaves, and flowers) is brought all the way from the ancestral Gorkha palace to the Hanuman Dhoka palace in Kathmandu. This age-old tradition signifies the historical ties between the Shah dynasty and the capital city, blending state administration with deep religious observance.
Nine Sacred Plants
The Phulpati offering typically consists of nine specific plants, including banana stalks, pomegranate leaves, and turmeric plants. Each of these represents one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga (Navapatrika). Bringing these plants into the Dashain Ghar is believed to invite health, wealth, and divine protection into the household.
Military Honours
In Kathmandu, the arrival of the Phulpati at the Tundikhel parade ground is a grand affair marked by the presence of high-ranking government officials and the Nepal Army. The military fires a celebratory gun salute, after which the Phulpati is escorted to the Taleju Bhawani temple amidst musical bands and traditional pageantry, signaling the start of the core festival days.
Planning for Phulpati
This 2083 date is part of the Dashain schedule. Check the calendar’s holiday scope separately from the observance itself. Family and community practices can vary; the festival date alone does not specify an exact ceremony time.