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As you may know by now that Gudi Padwa is just around the corner. The festival that celebrates several things — the victory of good over evil and the beginning of a new year among others — is also described by some as the birthday of Mother Earth; it is believed to be the day when, according to Hindu mythology, Brahma created the universe. Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day after amavasya (or the new moon day) marking the first tithi of Chaitra, the first month in the Hindu calendar. Alongside Akshaya Tritiya (which falls on May 9 this year), Vijayadashmi (October 11) and the night of Diwali, Gudi Padwa completes the sade teen muhurats or three-and-a-half auspicious days in the Hindu calendar.
Primary among the mythological tales associated with Gudi Padwa is that of the killing of Bali at the hands of Rama who then anointed Sugreeva, his brother as the king of Kishkinda. And then, in a coincidence or sorts, it was on this very day that Rama ascended the throne of Ayodhya after returning from his exile. In Maharashtra, Gudi Padwa is close to the Maharashtrian hearts because of its association with the Maratha hero, Shivaji who victories are celebrated with the hoisting of the gudi.
Gudi Padwa 2016 falls on Friday, April 8 giving us one of the last long weekends in April before a three-month drought of public and bank holidays. The Pratipada Tithi Begins at 4.53 pm on Thursday April 7 and ends at 1.05 pm on April 8. Gudi Padwa 2016 marks the beginning of Marathi Vikram Samvat 2073.
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