Its festival time here in Darjeeling and each day is observed differently. Yesterday i.e. September 25 was Fulpati where a cultural rally started from Dali. Every year it starts around 8-9 am and ends at Chowrasta, the considered center point of Darjeeling. I had to reach early so started at 7, walked a couple of kms and reached. A huge gathering had already taken place and I squeezed in to take some shots. Walked back to town along with the rally upto Chowrasta. It was such a marvelous cultural extravaganza.

Some must be wondering what “Fulpati” is, I have taken a para from a local news daily “The Telegraph”:

Phulpati is a unique custom in which community members collect flowers, petals and other offerings from their houses and take them to the puja pandal to pay obeisance to Goddess Durga. The decorated palanquin carrying the sacred flowers, leaves and sugarcane tied in red clothes — the colour symbolising the goddess — is usually accompanied by an ornate umbrella. It is believed that people who pass underneath the palanquin are absolved of their sins. The tradition dates back to the days of King Pritivinarayan Shah (1723-1775) of Nepal when the phulpati procession used to start from Gorkha, his native place, and end at Kathmandu after covering hundreds of miles.

Hope you like the photos!!

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Autumn Flush 2009:
I am now gearing up for the next and last tea season of the year namely Autumn Flush. Hope to get my hands on some good Autumn Flush Darjeeling Teas. Will keep you posted.

Happy Tea Sipping, Good Day!