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On Friday, April 8 several parts of India will celebrate Gudi Padwa. The festivities will be at their peak in Maharashtra where Gudi Padwa is celebrated with fervor. But do you know the significance of Gudi Padwa celebrations? As with most festivals in India, Gudi Padwa is associated with agriculture and marks the beginning of the harvesting season. Gudi Padwa also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. Several communities celebrate the onset of spring around this time of the year depending on the calendar each follows — Zoroastrian Parsis celebrate it as Navroz, Punjabis celebrate Baisakhi, Bengalis call it Naba Barsha, Assamese say Bihu, Kerala celebrates it as Vishu and so on. (DON’T MISS More stories on Festivals and Celebrations)
Gudi Padwa falls on the first day after amavasya or No Moon Day and marks the beginning of Chaitra, the first month in the Hindu calendar. Besides celebrating the onset of spring and the New Year, Gudi Padwa is also important to the Hindus who believe it to be the day when Brahma created the universe. Gudi Padwa also celebrates the beginning of the Satyug or the era of truth and justice. And Brahma, who isn’t worshiped as widely as Shiva and Vishnu in India, holds a place of special importance on this day.
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The significance of Gudi Padwa extends beyond the genesis of the universe. According to Hindu mythology, Gudi Padwa is closely associated with the life of Rama. It was on this day that he killed Bali and crowned Sugreeva the king of Kishkinda and it was on this very day several years later Rama’s own coronation took place in Ayodhya after his return from exile. In Maharashtra, Gudi Padwa is celebrated to commemorate the victories of the Maratha ruler, Shivaji. The various processions that are taken out in different parts of the state attempt to hark back at the time when Shivaji himself took out victory marches after having successfully returned from a conquest and hoisted gudi atop his forts.
Gudi comprises a long wooden staff, one end of which is decorated with a twig of mango leaves, a piece of yellow or saffron cloth, a garland of brightly colored flowers and an upturned metal (usually, copper) pot. According to vastu shastra, the gudi is to be hoisted on the right-hand-side of the house.
The day begins with a bath and as is the practice on all auspicious days, people step out of their homes in new clothes to pay their respects to the local deity. Rangolis are drawn, sweets are prepared and homes are decorated with brightly-colored flowers. Several parts of the state also witness prabhat pheris or victory marches that showcase the diverse cultures of Maharashtra. Girgaum in south Mumbai hosts one of the biggest and the best-known marches in the city. From lezim performances to acrobatic displays to motorcycle rallies and women and men playing large dholaks — festivities in Girgaum are indeed unparalleled.
Gudi Padwa falls on April 8 this year and with it brings in a long weekend, one of the last few before the Independence Day weekend in August. Here’s how you can make the most of the long weekend and begin your New Year with a journey to remember.
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