Gudi Padwa – All you need to know

Hindu calendar states that , the Hindu New Year begins at Gudi Padwa. This year, Gudi Padwa falls on April 13, 2021, Tuesday.

Gudi Padwa is a spring-time festival that marks the celebration of the Maharashtrian New Year. The first day of Chaitra month is celebrated as Gudi Padwa, according to the Hindu calendar. It is celebrated in and near Maharashtra and Goa generally.The word padava or padavo comes from the Sanskrit word pratipada which refers to the first day of a lunar fortnight. It is also called as Marathi New year. It is observed by Marathi and Kokani Hindus.Gudhi means flag, erect flag on the houses as part of celebration in Maharashtra where its mainly celebrated.

Murtha for Gudi Padwa:

This year, Pratipada Tithi begins at 08:00 on Apr 12, 2021 ends at 10:16 on Apr 13, 2021.

Arrangements on this day:

On the festive day, courtyards in village houses will be swept clean and plastered with fresh cow-dung. Even in the city, people take the time out to do some spring cleaning. Families on this day make sure to adorn their homes with flower garlands, earthen lamps, and rangolis. Then wearing new clothes to offer prayers. Sweets and savouries are distributed to welcome the season of spring.

Traditionally, families prepare a special dish that mixes various flavours, particularly the bitter leaves of the neem tree and sweet jaggery ( gul). Additional ingredients include sour tamarind and astringent dhane seeds. This, like the pacchadi recipe used in Ugadi festival, is eaten as a reminder of life’s sweet and bitter experiences, as well as a belief that the neem-based mixture has health benefits.

Preparation for Gudi:

One of the main preparations on this day is making the Gudi, a flag-like stick hoisted outside homes or even near windows. This is usually created using a long wooden stick wrapped with a New (unused) saree , kalash and decorated with neem leaves and a garland made using sugar candy. This is believed to symbolise victory.

Maharashtrian families also make many other festive dishes, such as shrikhand and Poori or Puran Poli on this day. Firstly this dishes are user as Prasad for offering God and guddi. The sugar garland are distributed among the small children in family and neighborhood. This is believed to symbolise the love and good luck for upcoming year.

Significance of gudi :

1. It symbolises the victory of King Shalivahana and was hoisted by his people when he returned to Paithan.

2. Lord Ram’s victory and happiness on returning to Ayodhya after slaying Ravana. Since a symbol of victory is always held high, so is the gudhi (flag).

3. Victory of Maratha warriors in processions.

4. Gudhi is believed to ward off evil, invite prosperity and good luck into the house.