Tribe, today is our Gudhi Padwa festival, the first day of Chaitra month of Hundi Calendar and the new year day in Maharashtra. This festival is also known as Ugadi in Andra Pradesh, Yugadi in Karnataka; Cheti Chand among Sindhi people.
There are a few different religious significance of this day. But one I like the most is, it’s believed that the world is formed on this day. According to Brahma Purana, Lord Brahma created this world on this day. So religiously It’s the birthday of Earth and interestingly Gudhi Padva is always closer to either Earth Hour or Earth Day, such a great coincidence isn’t it?
This Indian festival is also associated with agricultural significance. Gudhi Padva marks the end of one agricultural harvest and the beginning of a new one. In this context, The Gudhi Padwa is celebrated at the end of Rabi season (winter crops in India).
On this day, the sun assumes a position above the point of intersection of the equator and the meridians. According to the Hindu calendar, this marks the commencement of the VasantaRitu or the spring season.
Gudhi
Traditionally in Maharashtrian homes, we erect this beautiful Gudhi in balcony or terrace, a high place symbolizing the Brahma flag ( I would love to call it Earth Flag) and victory flag of Lord Rama. Bright green or yellow cloth adorned with brocade (zari) tied to the tip of a long bamboo over which gaathi (sugar crystals), neem leaves and a twig of mango leaves and a garland of red flowers are tied. A silver or copper pot is placed in the inverted position over it. Altogether, it is called as Gudhi. We adorn our doors with mango and neem tree leaves.
The neem tree symbolizes ‘health’, as the medicinal properties of neem are well known in India since ancient times. We also have a ritual of this festival to consume bitter neem leaves or juice along with coriander seeds and jaggery to make a healthy start of a year. Neem is believed to purify the blood and develop the immune system against diseases according to ancient Indian Ayurveda. Here I would like to relate this festival to World Health Day, which is also always closer to Gudhi Padva.
Last few years, some people are celebrating this festival innovatively by planting neem trees in India. I am going to host my alternative Gudhi in a potted Neem plant in my organic garden.
On Gudhi Padva, the new year day, we are also supposed to worship Sarawati Devi, a deity of knowledge. With Sarawati’s blessings, it is a new beginning with good thoughts and good actions. We worship this beautiful Shri Saraswati Yantra, a symbol for the goddess which is generally drawn on a chalkboard.
Saraswati Poojan
Being so far from the home, I make it a point to celebrate festivals like Gudhi Padva as much traditional way possible, so that my son can learn our traditional values as well as environmental significance involved in our traditional festivals and celebrations!
I associate this festival with a certain sweet dish, but I'm forgetting the name!