Festival of Gudi Padwa also known as Maharashtrian New Year is just around the corner. This year, the festival will be celebrated on April 6. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the state of Maharashtra and other Marathi speaking household communities of the country.
The festival of Gudi Padwa is also called Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. It falls at the beginning of the spring season and it marks the beginning of Chaitra month in the lunisolar Hindu calendar.
Construction of Gudhi is the most important tradition of the festival. It comes in part with other spring festivals like Ugadi in Karnataka, Telangana, and Cheti Chand by the Sindhi communities. It is also called as the Chaitra Sukladi, the new year based on the beginning of the new moon.
Gudi Padwa is also known as Samvatsar Oadvo, Yugadi or Navreh, from state to state, the celebrations also differ. Gudi Padwa is an auspicious day as it not just marks the beginning of the New Year but also begins the Chaitra Navratri. It is also the time farmers in the state plow their agricultural lands and prays for a good harvest in the rest of the year. Maharashtrians erect a gudi or gudhi, make special food items and mark the day. Houses are beautifully decorated with garlands and rangolis.
Significance of Gudi Padwa
the Padva in ‘Gudi Padva’ is derived from the Sanskrit word Pratipada that refers to the first day of the lunar fortnight. The Gudi or Gudhi is a flag installation with flowers, mango and neem leaf with an upturned silver or copper vessel. This installation of Gudi is said to bring in good luck and keep away negative feelings. The festival of Gudi Padwa signifies the arrival of spring.
As per the mythological references, this is the day when Hindu god Lord Brahma created time and universe. It is thus considered the beginning of the Satyayug. It is also considered a victorious day when Satavahana King Gautamiputra Satakarni defeated the Sakas. It is also a prominent belief among the Maratha community that the great Maratha king, Chhatrapati Shivaji hoisted the victory flag on this day and undertook a march of success. So it is considered a day of bringing prosperity and is celebrated with great enthusiasm.
On the day of Gudi Padwa, people take out processions, dress in traditional attire, decorate their houses and prepare special delicacies. It is a festival of new beginnings and people visit each other houses and pass on good wishes.
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