Gudi Padwa more commonly pronounced as Gudhi Padwaa is a major Marathi festival of the southern India. The word gudi is a Marathi translation of the Hindu month “Chaitra” which is the first month of the Hindu calendar. The word Padwa has been derived from the Sanskrit literature which means “First”. It is hence celebrated as the first day of the Hindu calendar. The cosmic calculation is also coincident to the “Pratipad” which is the first bright phase of the powerful moon. This festival is celebrated across many region under different names such as “Ugadi” in Karnataka and Andra Pradesh, ಪಾಡ್ಯ in Kannada region, பாட்டமி in tamilnadu and “Chitee chaand” amongst Sindhi community. History and Etymology Significance As mentioned above the word Padvaa is a sanskrit entity which embarks the “Pratipad” which is first day of the lunar month. It is noteably the best view after the “No Moon” phase of the periodic moon. Some people also misinterpred the term with the “Bali” pratipad which celebrated as the 3rd day of the “Diwali”, a festival of lights. Astronomical Significance The first moon or the new moon holds a very auspicious transit under astronomical observations. The Zodiac Sun in Aries signifies the start of “Vasant” ritu (Spring Season) and hence this day is accounted as the first day of the Hindu calendar. Religious Significance There is a direct mention about this day on the sacred Hindu texts that Lord Brahma made this world on this very day. Thereafter everything started to roll under the wheel of time. Each year starts with the same place of the circular path, our planet Earth takes in completing a revolution of the sun. How Gudi is Prepared A gudhi is a straight object which hoists an inverted pot or silver utensil of the similar dimension wrapped with bright yellow and a mixture of green cloth. A garlend is put across the stick/bamboo figure and is positioned t the front door/balcony of the house facing in the easter direction. It should also be kept on the right hand side of the main entrance which signifies soul under Hindu scriptures. Another superstitious belief about Gudhi is that it wards off the evil. ill and malefic energy out of the house and transfers in Peace and harmony to the house under which it is erected. Gudi Padwa Festival Celebration Houses and shops are all cleaned both in town and villages. This preliminary preparations are similar to that of Pre Diwali preparations. New clothes are worn on the day of the festival and people exchange gifts and wishes. The day is started with consuming a paste of Neem and Jaggery which helps in building immune against the seasonal diseases. At the night fall delicious food items are prepared and guest are called in for celebrating this day with love and happiness. The modern Hindu culture celebrates this festival with exchanging sms and greetings elders and loved ones with respect.
Ugadi one of the important festival in india, the day of Chitra Shudda Padyami (Pratipada) is celebrated as Ugadi the Hindu new year in Andhrapradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra the southern states of India. The spring season starts from this day. In this season trees are bloom with new leaves and fresh flowers. Mango trees are full with raw Mangoes with nightagles chants on mango tree. All the world becomes fresh with greenery. History Of Ugadi The name Yugadi or Ugadi is derived from the Sanskrit words yuga (age) and ādi (beginning): “The beginning of a new age”. It falls on the different day every year because the Hindu calendar is a lunisolar calendar. The Saka calendar begins with the month of Chaitra (March–April) and Ugadi marks the first day of the Hindu new year. Chaitra is the first month of Panchanga as in the Indian calendar. The people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka use the term Ugadi/Yugadi for this festival, one of the important hindu festival, where as the people of Maharashtra terms as Gudi Padawa (Marathi: गुढी पाडवा),For the same festival, observed on the same day. In Karnataka a special dish called obbattu or Holige, is prepared. In Andhra Pradesh, a special dish is prepared using Andhra recipes, called Bhakshyalu or Bobbatlu (Polelu), in Maharashtra special Puran Poli are prepared on this occasion. It consists of a filling (gram and jaggery/sugar boiled and made in to a paste) stuffed in a flat roti-like bread. It is usually eaten hot or cold with ghee or milk topping or coconut milk at some places of Karnataka. Another dish which is prepared on occasion of Ugadi is Ugadi pachhadi in Andhra Pradesh. Ugadi Festival Food Special Delicacies‘Ugadi Pacchadi’ is the traditional Ugadi Andhra recipe is prepared by the people of AndhrA Pradesh. It is a mixture of six tastes – Raw Mango (tangy), Neem (bitter), Tamarind Juice (sour), Green Chilli/Pepper (heat), Jaggery and ripe banana pieces (sweet), Pinch of salt, which symbolize life as a blend of different experiences (sorrow, joy, anger, fear, disgust, surprise), which should be accepted together. This Item in Karnataka known as “Bevu Bella”. Ugadi is celebareted to mark the beginning of a new Hindu Lunar calendar. It is a day when mantras are chanted and predictions for the new year are made. The most important thing in this festival is Panchanga Shravanam – hearing of the Panchanga. The Panchanga Shravanam ceremony is done at the temples by the priests. Before reading out the annual forecasts as predicted in the Panchanga, the officiating priest reminds the participants of the creator – Brahma, and the span of creation of the universe. In Marathi, people bless each other using the phrase, ‘गुढी पाडव्याच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा’ (Gudhi Padvyachya Hardik Shubhechcha).