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What is Gudi Padwa?

What is Gudi Padwa?

The Gudi Padwa festival is celebrated in the western state of Maharashtra and marks the beginning of the Marathi new year. It falls in the month of March or April.

Gudi Padwa, also known as Samvatsar Padvo, is a springtime festival that marks the New Year for the people of Maharashtra, Goa, and parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in India. It is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar, which typically falls in March or April.

Gudi Padwa is celebrated with great enthusiasm and is considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar. The festival is associated with the harvest season and the arrival of spring, which symbolizes new beginnings and the renewal of life.

On this day, people clean their homes, decorate them with rangolis and flowers, and prepare special dishes.

One of the main traditions of Gudi Padwa is the preparation of the Gudi, a bamboo stick decorated with a silk cloth, flowers, and a garland, and topped with an upturned copper or silver vessel. The Gudi is then hoisted at the entrance of homes, symbolizing victory and prosperity.

Happy Gudi Padwa
Happy Gudi Padwa Image by Freepik

In addition to these traditions, Gudi Padwa is also marked by various cultural events and performances. In Maharashtra, people participate in the traditional dance form of Lavani, while in Goa, people perform the folk dance of Fugdi. The festival also sees the participation of musicians, who perform traditional music, and theater artists, who stage plays and dramas.

Click here to find the date for this year.

Gudi Padwa Procession
Gudi Padwa Procession on Bikes – Source

In Maharashtra, people take out processions carrying the Gudi, which is decorated with a silk cloth, flowers, and a garland, and topped with an upturned copper or silver vessel. The procession is led by a group of drummers and dancers, and people dress up in traditional clothes and participate in the revelry.

During the procession, the Gudi is carried to the local temple, where it is offered to the deity as a symbol of victory and prosperity. The procession also passes through the streets, and people offer prayers and distribute sweets and other delicacies to their neighbors and friends.

Aamti – Tangy Lentil Dish – Source and Recipe
Shreekhand Source

People decorate their homes with colorful rangolis, raise a Gudi flag.

Some of the special dishes made during Gudi Padwa include:

  1. Puran Poli: A sweet flatbread stuffed with a mixture of lentils, jaggery, and cardamom powder. It is usually served with ghee. (same as bobbatlu served in Andhra pradesh for Ugadi above)
  2. Shrikhand: A sweet dish made with strained yogurt, sugar, and flavored with cardamom powder and saffron.
  3. Aamti: A spicy dal dish made with toor dal, kokum, jaggery, and a blend of Maharashtrian spices.
  4. Kothimbir Vadi: A savory snack made with besan (gram flour), coriander leaves, and spices. It is steamed and then fried.
  5. Sabudana Khichdi: A popular Maharashtrian breakfast dish made with tapioca pearls, peanuts, and spices.
  6. Kanda Poha: A classic breakfast dish made with flattened rice, onions, and a blend of spices.
  7. Batata Bhaji: A simple and tasty potato dish that is flavored with cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and curry leaves.

These dishes are usually served with rice, chapatis, or puris. Gudi Padwa is a time for families and friends to come together and enjoy traditional Maharashtrian food, which is an integral part of the celebrations.

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About... Festivals

What is Ugadi?

What is Ugadi?

Ugadi is a popular festival celebrated in the South Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.

The word “Ugadi” is derived from two Sanskrit words “Yuga” meaning era or age, and “Adi” meaning beginning.

Ugadi marks the beginning of a new era or a new year, and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor.

The word “Ugadi” is derived from two Sanskrit words “Yuga” meaning era or age, and “Adi” meaning beginning.

When is this and other new year festivals celebrated in India?

Ugadi is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Chaitra (March-April), which marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Hindu calendar.

So the date depends on a different cycle and can fall on different dates in the calendar. There is a resource which has the dates of ALL the holidays around n the world and the current dates.

Click here to find the date for this years Ugadi.

Click here to find out the dates for all the festivals and holidays in India.

How is Ugadi celebrated?

On this day, people wake up early in the morning, take a bath, and decorate their houses with mango leaves and rangolis.

Lord Brahma – the creator – Source

It is believed that Lord Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, started the creation of the universe on this day.They also offer prayers to Lord Brahma, and seek his blessings for a happy and prosperous new year.

Rangoli
Rangoli – or decorative designs
Ugadi Pachadi – Source

People prepare special dishes like Ugadi pachadi (a mixture of six different tastes -to remind us of the qualities of LIFE itself – sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy, and tangy), pulihora (tamarind rice), bobbatlu (sweet stuffed bread), and other traditional delicacies.

Pulohora – Tamarind Rice Source
Bobbatlu or Puran Poli – Source

People also exchange gifts and sweets with each other and visit temples to offer their prayers.

The significance of Ugadi festival is both religious and cultural.

It marks the beginning of a new year and is considered an auspicious day to start new ventures and make important decisions.

Happy Ugadi
Happy Ugadi – Ugadi Subhakankshalu – Source

It also signifies the onset of spring and the harvest season, and people pray for a good crop and prosperity. On the religious front, the festival marks the beginning of the Vasant ritu (spring season) and is considered an auspicious time to start new ventures, such as business, education, and marriage.

In Karnataka, Ugadi is also known as “Yugadi” and it holds great significance in the state’s cultural and traditional heritage. On this day, people clean their houses and decorate them with fresh flowers and mango leaves, which are considered auspicious.

Bevu Bella prepared in Karnataka for Yugadi – Source

In some parts of Karnataka, people also perform the ritual of “Panchanga Shravana” where they listen to the predictions for the upcoming year according to the Hindu lunar calendar. The predictions are based on astrological calculations and are believed to give an insight into the future.

Panchangam is an astrological almanac used in South India to calculate auspicious timings and events according to the Hindu lunar calendar. (In the north it’s called Panchang)

Panchangam is closely related to the study of astronomical positions of stars, constellations, and planets. It is based on the positions of the moon and other planets in the solar system, as well as the 27 constellations or Nakshatras that the moon travels through during its revolution cycle around the earth.

The calculation of the Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana, and Var (Panchangam means five limbs in Sanskrit) are all based on the positions of the moon, sun, and other celestial bodies in the solar system.

Read More about Panchangam Let’s take a look at the five parts of the Panchangam in more detail:

Tithi – A Tithi is a lunar day, which is calculated based on the position of the moon in relation to the sun. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month, each lasting for approximately 24 hours. The Tithi is used to determine auspicious and inauspicious timings for various events, such as weddings, business deals, and other important activities.

Nakshatra – The Nakshatras are the 27 constellations that the moon travels through during its cycle. Each Nakshatra is associated with a specific set of characteristics and is believed to have a particular impact on human life. The Nakshatra is used to determine the most auspicious time for starting a new venture or undertaking a new project.

Yoga – The Yoga is the combination of the positions of the sun and the moon, and it is used to determine the auspicious and inauspicious timings for various activities, such as traveling, starting a new job, or buying a new home.

Karana – The Karana is a half Tithi, which is used to determine the most auspicious time for certain activities, such as cutting hair, trimming nails, and other personal grooming activities.

Var – The Var refers to the day of the week and is used to determine the auspicious and inauspicious timings for various activities, such as starting a new business, getting married, or signing a new contract.

The Panchangam is used by astrologers, priests, and individuals to determine the most auspicious timings for various activities and events in their lives. For example, if someone is planning to start a new business, they may consult the Panchangam to determine the most auspicious date and time for launching their venture.

It takes into account the day, time, and location to create a personalized calendar for a specific region or individual.

Another popular tradition on Ugadi in Karnataka is the “Huli Vesha” or the Tiger Dance, where people dress up in tiger costumes and dance to the beats of drums and other musical instruments.

Huli Vesha – Men dressed as Tigers (Huli) do the dance Source

The dance is believed to bring prosperity and good luck to the community.

Festive Traditional Vegetarian South Indian meal served on a banana leaf – Source

In Karnataka it’s celebrated on the same day as in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Learn more about all other new year festivals in India

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