Ugadi or Gudi Padwa
This festival is known as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It has become a custom to hold Kavi Sammelans (Poetry recitals) on this day.
Gudi Padwa 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 worshiped specially at this time.
Lord Vishnu too is said to have incarnated as Matsya, the fish, on this day.
A gudi (banner) with a swastika -marked metal pot and silk cloth is raised to announce victory and joy. In Maharashtra, it is reminiscent of the valiant Marathas returning home from their successful expeditions of war. Maharashtrian take the opportunity to honour their favourite leader, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
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.
Traditionally bitter leaves of the neem tree with jaggery were given as Prasad of Ugadi/Gudi Padwa.
Gudi Padwa is considered as an auspicious occasion to buy ornaments, house and other new things.
The festival is celebrated when the heat of sun began intensifying and the time of harvesting the crop has come. The fragrance of ripening Mangoes, Jackfruit and other seasonal fruits fill the air with sweet smell and are ready to be sold to the marketplaces. Shrubs and trees are blooming with flowers.
Gudi Padwa, also known as Ugadi, is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra shukla Padyami, which corresponds to end of March or beginning of April according to the Gregorian calendar. This festival marks the beginning of 'Vasant' or spring.
Indian society is largely dependendent on agriculture and e celebrations and festivals are often linked with changing seasons and to the sowing and reaping of crops. The word 'padwa' is a Sanskrit word for crop, which literally means 'Pradurbhu.' This day also marks the end of one harvest and the beginning of a new one, which for an agricultural community would signify the beginning of a New Year. Gudi Padwa is celebrated at the end of the Rabi season.
Celebrations
People in villages rise early in the morning and take an oil bath. The courtyards of the houses in village are swept clean and plastered with fresh cowdung on the festive day. Women and children draw intricate and beautiful patterns of rangoli designs by paste of rice grains, turmeric paste, vermilion powder, chalk and limewater on their doorsteps to welcome guests. The vibrant colours of Rangoli mirror the splash of colour of the season, spring. The strikingly colourful patterns brighten up the festive ambience.
Everyone dresses up in new clothes especially bought up for the day and all family members gathers together to enjoy and rejoice the occasion.
Early in the morning of the festival day, people wear new clothes and offer oblations to God, and also prays for a prosperous new year.
Special delicacies made on the day, like soonth panak and chana usal are eaten on this day.
Traditionally, families are supposed to begin the festivities by eating the bittersweet leaves of the neem tree.
Sometimes, a paste of neem leaves is prepared and mixed with ajwain, gul, tamarind and jaggery. All the members of the family consume this paste. It is believed that this neem paste will purify the blood and strengthen the body's immune system against diseases.
The hoisting of the "Gudi" is the main ritual of the festival.
'Gudi'
A 'gudi' is a bamboo pole on top of which an upturned brass or silver pot called a kalash is placed. The gudi is covered with a bright green or yellow silk cloth adorned with brocade (zari) and decorated with coconuts, marigolds and mango leaves that symbolize rich harvest. An empty, inverted jug of water (tambya), made of brass, copper or silver and held up to the sky over it.
On Gudi Padwa, you will find gudis hanging out of windows or displayed in traditional Maharashtrian households as they are expected to ward off evil and invite prosperity and good luck into the house.
Some believe that the gudis are a symbol of victory associated with the conquests of the Maratha forces lead by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
On the festival day, people erect gudis to the right side of the main entrance of their houses.
On a Gudi Padwa day Lord Brahma created the universe. After the Gudi is set up, everyone worships it and performs a prayer in honour of Lord Brahma. A gudi with coconut is hung from a rope atop which a person has to break the coconut by climbing the pyramid formed by the boys and young men of the locality.
Feast involves traditional delicacies of shrikhand and Poori on this day. Other special dishes as Pooran poli, soonth panak and chana are also made. In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, a special kind of sauce known as Ugadi Pachchadi made up of neem, jaggery, raw mango and tamarind juice is prepared.
Gudi Padwa is considered to be an auspicious day to start new business and ventures. Gold ornaments are also bought on this day. Farmers plough their field and distribute food to laborers.
Legend
There are various legends described in Hindu religious scriptures giving the reason to celebrate the sacred and joyous festival, Gudi Padwa.
According to Brahma Purana Lord Brahma recreated the world after a devastating flood and time began to tick from this day forth.
An era of truth and justice- Satyug is believed to have started on this day. Gudi Padwa is said to be one of the 3 and a half days in the Indian Lunar calendar called "Sade-Teen Muhurt".
Any new venture can be started on this auspicious day. The word ‘padwa’ is derived from Pratipada, the first day of a lunar month or the first day after no-moon day (Amavasya).
Gudi Padwa is dedicated to the worship of Lord Brahma. Hence, special flags known as “Brahmadhvaj” or flag of Brahma is raised in honour of Lord Brahma. Some also refer to it as ‘the flag of Indra’ (Indradhvaj).
Everyone worships the Gudi and offers a prayer in honour of Lord Brahma.
According to another legend, hoisting the "Brahmadhvaj" commemorates the coronation of Rama after his return to Ayodhya from 14 years of exile. The setting up of the 'Gudi' on the main entrance of every house symbolizes expression of happiness of the people of Ayodhya on return of Rama back to his own kingdom after winning over Ravana.
The 'Gudi' stood as a victory flag for the people of Ayodhya. Gudi Padwa is said to mark this happy incident, an occassion of great significance for religious Hindus. On this day, Rama attained victory over King Bali.
The festival marks the invasion of the Maratha forces led by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Maharashtrians admires and regards Shivaji very much for fighting bravely to establish a Maratha kingdom free from Mogul domination.
According to this legend, the "Gudi" is redolent of the brave Marathas returning home from their successful mission of war. The festival is thus, a celebration of victory and prosperity.
Another firm belief is that the displaying of the Gudi keeps off the evil and brings prosperity and good luck into the house.
Time for Celebration
Gudi Padwa, also known as Ugadi, is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra shukla Padyami or first day of Marathi Calendar which corresponds to end of March or beginning of April according to the Gregorian calendar.
This festival marks the beginning of 'Vasant' or spring. In 2011 the festival will be celebrated on April, 4 thFurther dates of the festival for forthcoming years are:
In 2011: April, 4
In 2012: March, 23
In 2013: April, 11
In 2014: March, 31
In 2015: March, 21
In 2016: April, 8
In 2017: March, 29
In 2018: March, 18
In 2019: April, 6
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