Dashain (Fulpati) Festival is the most anticipated time amongst the Nepalese-Hindu community. Also known as Bijaya Dasami, it is widely celebrated by the ancestral Nepalese society of Nepal, Darjeeling region, Sikkim, and the parts of Northeastern states inhabited by the Nepalese people. Fulpati festival is also celebrated amongst the Lhotshampa of Bhutan, Burmese Gorkhas of Myanmar, and the ones based in the various parts of the world.
Dashain Festival usually falls in the month of September or October. The celebration lasts for 15 days. It is the most auspicious, and the longest celebrated festival in the Nepalese Annual Calendar.
It marks a time of homecoming for the ones staying far away from their home. The start of the Fulpati festival is marked with Shukla Paksha or the waxing of the moon which lasts for a fortnight.
Dashain is celebrated to honor the remarkable victory of the good over evil. The Hindu myth cites the defeat of a demon called ‘Mahisasur’ by Goddess Durga.
Another ancient epic poem ‘Ramayana’ reveals that Dashain Festival signifies the victory of Ram over Ravan, a symbolism of defeat of evil by good.
Thus, the first 9 days of ‘Dashain Festival pictures’ the constant battle between good and evil. This entire period of 9 days is commonly known as Navaratri.
The 7th day, called as Saptami is well-known as ‘Fulpati in Nepali’ . The Fulpati or Phoolpati actually is the combination of 9 sacred plants. Rice stalk, banana plant, turmeric, pomegranate, wood apple (Indian Bel), Ashok, Ginger plant, Jayanti, and manabriksha are brought into the house.
