Gudi Padwa

               New Year Day

This festival marks the beginning of New Year in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka. This festival is known as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. This festival marks the beginning of the spring season. People celebrate this festival with great spirit and joy. It has become a custom to hold Kavi Sammelans (Poetry recitals) this day.

Gudi Padva is considered one of the four most auspicious days in the year when people start new ventures. It is believed that Lord Brahma, created the world on this day and so he is worshipped especially at this time. Lord Vishnu too is said to have incarnated as Matsya, the fish, on this day.

People prepare for the New Year by cleaning and washing their houses and buying new clothes. On the festival day they decorate their houses with mango leaves and 'rangoli' designs, and pray for a prosperous new year, and visit the temples to listen to the yearly calendar 'Panchangasravanam' as priests make predictions for the coming year.  In Maharashtra, it is reminiscent of the valiant Marathas returning home from their successful expeditions of war. They honour their favourite leader, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Traditionally, bittersweet leaves of the neem tree are eaten on this day. A paste of crushed neem leaves, cumin seeds, jaggery and salt is taken before eating any food in the morning. Special foods are prepared for this festival. In the southern states, puligore - a sour tamarind rice dish, bobbatlu, holige - sweet stuffed bread and Ugadi Pachadi made of jagerry, raw mango pieces, neem flowers and tamarind is prepared. In Maharastra, shrikhand-a fragrant yogurt dessert, with poori, fried puffy bread is prepared.

On this day, gudis are hung outside the houses or in the localities. A 'gudi' is a pole on the top of which an upturned brass or silver pot called a kalash is placed. The gudi is covered with a colourful silk cloth and decorated with marigold flowers, coconuts, and mango leaves that symbolize nature's bounty. Gudi is worshipped by offering sandalwood paste, turmeric and vermilion. Then, boys and young men of the locality form a pyramid and the person on top of the pyramid breaks the coconut, which is in the kalash.

Gudi Padwa is considered a very auspicious day. New ventures are begun, house-warming poojas are performed, and people also may choose to buy gold, silver or property on this day.

There are some legends behind the celebration of Gudi Padwa. It is said that Brahma created the Universe on this day and Satyuga (The Age of Truth and Justice) began.

It is also believed that on this day, Rama killed King Vali and Shri Rama returned to Ayodhya victorious.

In these three & a half days of the Hindu Lunar calendar, every moment is considered auspicious.

Thanking you and with Warmest Regards.

Mr. Ashok Harlalka

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