Gudhi Padwa

All About Gudhi Padwa

The Sacred festival, which signifies the beginning of the New Year, new month, and a new day for Hindus, falls on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (the first day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra). It is known as Gudhī padwa (Maharashtra) or Yugaadi (Ugadi) (Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh) in India.

On this very day, Deity Brahma created the universe. Therefore for Hindus, this day carries particular attention. The day is praised with a propitious bath, followed by decorating the main entrance with a garland (toran), offering ritualistic worship, and hoisting the DharmaDhwaj or Gudhi (flag).

The word Padwa is derived from two syllables, Pad and Waa.

Pad: Means tending towards perfection or maturity.

Waa: In spirituality, the word ''Waa" indicates that which increases growth.

Deity Brahma dev's creation of the universe, i.e., a complete picture of the universe when ready is pad. Later more was added, or some alterations were made to make the universe more beautiful and perfect. Therefore, the day on which Deity Brahma perfected the creation of the universe is called padwa. When the hoisting of the DharmaDhwaj was added to the celebrations. This day came to be known as Gudhi padwa.

Origin: Historically, the Gudi symbolizes Lord Rama's triumph over Ravana. Since a victory symbol is always kept high, so is the Gudhi (flag). The festival admires the crowning of Rama post his arrival to Ayodhya after ending 14 years of separation.

Significance and rituals: The day is supposed to start with a formal oil bath, followed by prayers and neem leaves consumption. In North India, the nine-day festivity of Chaitra Navaratri begins on the same day. Gudhi flags are also hoisted on homes, providing the festival name and the Gudhi Padwa festivities in Maharashtra. The flag made from a bright and colorful silk-scarf-like cloth attached to a bamboo stick, and on the top end of the stick, branches of neem and mango leaves, along with a garland of flowers, are also added. The stick is capped with a silver or bronze vessel or Kalash, which implies triumph or accomplishment.

Celebrations: Gudi Padwa is feasted with people cleaning their houses and decorating them with rangolis. Everyone wears new clothes to rejoice on this auspicious day. Women also wear traditional jewelry called dejhor. Maharashtrians observe this festival by making several traditional cuisines like shrikhand, poori, and Puran Poli.

Preparation of the Gudi: The Gudhi is made by buying a fresh green or yellow silken material with a zari brocade and tying it onto a long bamboo stick. Then, on top of the fabric, neem leaves, gathi (a Maharashtrian sweet product), a garland of red or yellow flowers,, and a branch with mango leaves are also bound. This stick with the many decorations is covered with an inverted silver or copper pot. The Gudhi is located either at the entrance or outside the windowpane.

Special Rangoli: Rangoli is one of the most famous and quintessentially Indian customs of decorating the house during auspicious Hindu festivities. The Gudhi ground is decorated with an elaborate Rangoli made using powdered color, flowers,, and petals and is a much-awaited ceremony in the families celebrating this festival. There is no particular theme that Gudhi Padwa passes in a Rangoli. Therefore, celebrants have the privilege to use a variety of topics in whatever combination they relish. Right from geometric patterns, nature-inspired subjects like fish, trees, elephants, and birds, and human forms to more religiously meaningful and auspicious symbols like the Kalash, swastika with the four dots, om, mangal, leaves from an Ashoka tree, the lotus, a lighted lamp, and many others. The lively colors of the rangoli and the flowers utilized in its making speculate the sprinkle of colors and life this season brings.

It is also celebrated in the North-East state of Manipur as Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba, and in countries like Nepal, Burma, Cambodia, and other nations, a lot of Hindus. People prepare a variety of food and cuisine on this day and later climb the hillocks in the evening.

In Kashmir, the Kashmiri Hindu or Pundit community, the Kashmiri Sikh community, celebrate this Festival as Navreh, the start of the New Lunar Year. A biggish thal viz a brass eating plate is filled with uncooked rice and the new Punchang, the Kashmiri Hindu Ephemeris, placed in it. A little cooked rice, curds, salt, small cups, crisp currency note and a coin, a pen, some flowers, a golden bangle, a silver ornament, 3 or 5 walnuts are also placed in this Thal. Everyone is expected to see this thal, first thing in the morning. Generally, the eldest lady of the household sees it first and then brings it in to show to all sleeping members of the family. Everyone is expected to wear new clothes and the children are given some cash to enjoy the festival. The lunch is a feast.

Wishing you all Happy Gudhi Padwa, Happy Ugadi, Happy Cheti Chand, and Happy Chaitra Navratri !!