Culture & Lifestyle
Phulpati sent to Hanuman Dhoka from Gorkha Durbar
Preparations for the Phulpati dispatch began on Wednesday, the day of Shasthi.Hariram Uprety
The sacred Phulpati, an assortment of auspicious flowers, leaves, and plants for the Dashain festival, has been ceremoniously sent from the Kalika Temple at Gorkha Durbar to Hanuman Dhoka Durbar in Kathmandu. The Phulpati was officially dispatched on Thursday, following traditional rituals.
Lok Prasad Bhattarai, a former employee of Gorkha Durbar and a priest of Dhungagadhe Bhagwati, carried the Phulpati to Kathmandu in a Ba 2 Jha 2128 vehicle. The departure from Gorkha was marked by traditional music, a decorated Phulpati palanquin, and joyous celebrations.
The Phulpati from Gorkha Durbar is believed to increase the grandeur of Dashain in Kathmandu upon its arrival at Hanuman Dhoka, signaling the formal commencement of the festival.
Preparations for the Phulpati dispatch began on Wednesday, the day of Shasthi. The head priest of the Kalika Temple, Sharda Prasad Bhattarai, mentioned that the process started with an invitation ritual at Piple in Gorkha Municipality-9.
“The Phulpati collection process begins after a ritual offering to the gods by priests and assistants. The collected assortment includes Navapatrika, which is then sent to Kathmandu,” Bhattarai explained. He also mentioned that the Navapatrika is gathered from forest areas in Paslang, Reep, and Amarai around Gorkha.
The tradition involves offering part of the Navapatrika at Gorkha Durbar, while the rest is dispatched to Hanuman Dhoka.
According to local elders, the custom of offering Phulpati to both the ancestral deities of Gorkha and the newly established deities at Hanuman Dhoka was initiated by the Shah dynasty kings.
It is said that Drabya Shah, the founder of the Shah dynasty, started the practice of offering Phulpati at Gorkha Durbar in 1616 BS. Later, after Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered Kathmandu, the tradition of sending Phulpati from Gorkha to Hanuman Dhoka began. “The practice of offering prayers at Hanuman Dhoka only starts after Phulpati arrives from Gorkha,” Bhattarai said.
Bishnu Pathak, the chief of Gorkha Durbar Herchar Adda, stated that while Phulpati used to be transported on foot in the past due to a lack of roads, it is now sent by vehicle thanks to the expansion of road networks. He expressed his belief that this age-old tradition helps preserve cultural heritage. "This tradition, passed down through generations, must be preserved for future generations. We plan to continue it with even greater grandeur in the coming years," he added.