GreenPro India Wishes ‘Shubh Gudi Padwa!!!’
Popularly known as the Maharashtrian New Year, Gudi Padwa is a festival celebrated with plenty of enthusiasm in the state of Maharashtra. Some other states celebrate it in their own style, like Karnataka celebrates it as Ugadi.
Gudi Padwa falls on the first day of lunar month Chaitra; this day is called ‘Chaitra Shukla Pratipada’. This is the first day of the bright phase of the moon called Pratipada in Sanskrit. Hence this day marks the beginning of spring season.
Also as India is majorly an agriculture based country, most of the festivals are associated with farming seasons and rituals. Gudi Padwa hence denotes the end of one agricultural cycle and start of another.
The rituals involve tying a bright coloured and brocade decorated cloth over a bamboo. This is then adored with sugar crystals, neem leaves, mango leaves and a garland. An inverted silver or copper pot is placed and decorated with haldi-kumkum. The Gudi is then hoisted outside the house or on any high place from where it is visible to everyone.
As per the Hindu mythology, the celebrations began as a commemoration of Lord Ram’s victory over Ravan and his return to the kingdom of Ayodhya after the exile of 14 yrs. Hence the Gudi represents the symbol of victory and is believed to ward off evil and bring prosperity and good luck. Families gather to feast on traditional cuisine. A lot of sweet delicacies typical to maharashtrian cuisine are prepared, like the shrikhand-puri, puranpoli and kheer.
Family members wear new clothes and gift each other with presents and gold, especially husbands to their wives. The household are decorated with flowers and colourful rangoli. On the beautiful and auspicious festival GreenPro India wishes all a happy and prosperous new year. Shubha Gudi Padwa!!
