What is Gudi Padwa ? and why do we have holiday on this day ?
It is the first day of the Hindu calendar month Chaitra and is celebrated as New Year’s Day for Maharashtrians .
What is Gudhi ? What is Padwa?
A green or yellow cloth is tied to the tip of a long bamboo and is adorned with sugar crystals, neem leaves, mango leaves and a garland of red flowers. A silver or copper pot is placed in the inverted position over it. Altogether, it is called a Gudhi .It is believed that when lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after finishing 14 years of exile; people in Ayodhya welcomed him by hoisting Gudhis out of their windows. Today Gudhis are hoisted to ward off evil, invite prosperity and good luck into the house
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.
What do Maharashtrians do on Gudhi Padwa ?
People try to get up early and take a customary oil bath.They take the time out to do some spring cleaning. The house entrance is decorated especially with mango leaves flowers and other decorative. Women and children work on intricate rangoli designs on their doorsteps.Everyone dresses up in new clothes and it is a time for family gatherings.It is considered an auspicious day to start new ventures and to buy gold ornaments and property and other valuables.
Any special food they cook on this day ?
Yes. Maharashtrian families celebrate this day by making traditional sweet dishes like Shrikhand and Poori or Puran Poli.
So if you have a Marathi neighbor, you can earn a chance to have delicious Shrikhand Poori at his place by wishing him
गुढीपाडव्याच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा. (Gudhi paadvyaachyaa haardik shubhechaa)
It would be greatly appreciated if a Marathi translation of the above very interesting material could also be provided.
Hello Nandakumar
It is a nice idea to provide the Marathi translation of the above material, but considering the majority of people learning on this website are in their beginning stage,it would be difficult for them to understand . So, this lesson was deliberately kept in English to give a hint of Marathi culture to the visiting audience, however in future lessons I’ll keep in mind to provide Marathi translation of the content provided in the lessons.
Thanks for your idea
आणि
गुडी पाडव्याच्या शुभेच्छा.