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Gudi Padwa
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Telugu Month
Chaitra
Type
festival
๐About
Gudhi Padwa is a spring festival marking the start of the lunisolar new year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus. It is celebrated in and around Maharashtra, Goa, and Daman at the start of Chaitra, the first month of the lunisolar Hindu calendar. The festival is characterised by colourful floor decorations called rangoli, a special gudi dhvaja, which is a sari or dhoti or other piece of cloth garlanded with flowers, mango, and neem leaves, and a sugar crystal garland called gathi, topped with upturned silver or copper vessels. The celebration also includes street gatherings, dancing, and festive foods.
๐History & Significance
Gudi Padwa is the first day of lunisolar based Hindu calendar. Most Hindu calendars are based on an ancient treatise popularly known as Surya Siddhanta . As per Hindu beliefs, the treatise of Surya Siddhanta was revealed to mankind by the Lord Surya himself. Hence the origin of Gudi Padwa might be impossible to date. As per Vedic astrology the day of Gudi Padwa is very significant. The day of Gudi Padwa falls under Sadhe Teen Muhurat. In Vedic Astrology, Gudi Padwa, Akshaya Tritiya, Vijayadashami and half of Bali Pratipada create Sadhe Teen Muhurta and these days need no Muhurta. It is believed that all work conducted on these days give positive results. Gudi Padwa is also very significant for shopping and people do lots of shopping on the day of Gudi Padwa.
๐ชTraditions & Observance
Adorning Traditional Attire Most family members get up early in the morning. After morning bath people get dressed up in traditional attire to mark the occasion of Gudi Padwa. Installing Gudi On Gudi Padwa, people install Gudi in front of the main gate. In Maharashtra, the hoisting of Kalash on top of a stick with a bright silk cloth is considered the symbol of victory. The whole arrangement of putting Kalash on top of a stick and decorating it with flowers and mango leaves is known as Gudi. Hence people begin the New Year on a winning note as the victory of good over evil. Gudi looks like a religious flag hosted in every household. Drawing Rangoli People mainly women folks draw beautiful Rangoli at the main entrance and especially at the foot of the Gudi as a symbol of auspiciousness. Worshipping Gudi - Gudi Puja Most family members worship Gudi with garlands, flowers, Akshata, Kumkum and Haldi. People seek for progress, wealth and prosperity during the new Samvatsara. It is believed that worshipping Gudi bestows good health, wealth and prosperity. Preparation of traditional recipes Traditional Marathi recipes like Shrikhand, Puran Poli, Rice Chakli and Bhakarwadi are prepared and savored with friends, relatives and family members. Apart from traditional recipes, it is customary to eat tender leaves of Neem and Mishri on the very first day of Samvatsara.
๐Puja Vidhi & Rituals
There is no specific deity of Gudi Padwa. However, Gudi itself is personified as deity and is worshipped on the day of Gudi Padwa.
๐ Sources & Further Reading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gudi_PadwaContent from Wikipedia, available under CC-BY-SA license
