The seventh day of Dashain festival, Fulpati, was observed on Tuesday across the country with cultural and religious functions.

However, the tradition of bringing a special procession bearing Jamara and other items necessary for the Tika from Gorkha palace did not continue this year.

The tradition began during the rule of King Prithvi Narayan Shah. As part of the tradition the Fulpati procession is brought all the way from Gorkha, 169 km from Kathmandu, via Dhading.

The Hanumandhoka-based Palace has marked the festival by bringing in the Fulpati. Similarly, Nepal Army also observed the occasion by firing cannon and rifles at Tudikhel in the Capital.

Traditionally, the Fulpati filled with holy water, banana stalks, jamara and sugarcane tied with red cloth to be offered to Goddess Durga, is carried by Bhramans on a decorated palanquin under a gold tipped and embroidered umbrella to the Dashain Ghar in Hanuman Dhoka in the day.

Meanwhile, the Hindu families collected Fulpati—an assortment of flowers, leaves and fruits of different plants considered auspicious—and took them inside their home. Though Dashain begins with Ghatasthapana, the festival gets special flavour from the day of Fulpati.

All government as well as private offices are closed from the seventh day of Navaratri, encouraging people to go back to their respective ancestral homes and take blessings from Durga Bhawani as well as their elders.