Gudi Padwa:
Gudi Padwa, also known as Ugadi in other areas of India, celebrates the start of the Hindu new year. In the lunisolar Hindu calendar, it is usually observed in March or April, on the first day of the month of Chaitra. It is a bright and lively festival that symbolizes new life, new start and the spirit of spring. Although people celebrate Holi and Diwali, Gudi Padwa or Samvatsar Padvo is more important in the region of Maharashtra. It was the day when the Marathi community paid respects to Gudi which was tied outside the house.Gudi consists of a stick or pole draped in colorful cloth and an inverted copper or silver vessel set on top of it.It is believed to ward off evil and bring prosperity, and it stands for triumph.
Since Gudi is considered a symbol of the prosperous, people pay their reverence to Gudi with an intention to attain happiness, balance, achievement, and fortune in the forthcoming year. The entire phrase is ‘Gudi Padwa,’ which translates to ‘Brahma’s flag.’ The term ‘Padwa’ is also spelled as ‘Padva,’ or ‘Paddava,’ and it literally means the first day of the first phase of the moon.
Gudi Padwa 2025 Time and date:
Gudi Padwa, also known as Ugadi in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, will be held on Sunday, March 30, 2025. It is known as “Navareh” in Kashmir and Sajibu Nongma Panba in Manipur. Conversely, the Konkani community in Goa and Kerala observes it as the Samvatsar Padvo festival. On this day, the Sindhi community celebrates the Cheti Chand celebration.
Regarding the Panchang, on March 29, 2025, a Saturday, at 04:27 PM, is the Pratipada Tithi of Shukla Paksha of the Chaitra month. It finishes on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 12:49 p.m.
Gudi Padwa’s Importance
The first day of the world is regarded by the Scriptures as Gudi Padwa. According to legend, Sun God awoke for the first time in history on the day when Brahma ji created the universe. But in mythology, Lord Shri Ram killed Bali on Gudi Padwa during the Treta Yuga, freeing the people from his terror. On this day, people commemorate Vijay Diwas. For this reason, people make Rangoli outside of their homes.
Gudi Padwa signifies the start of spring and the beginning of crop harvesting. This celebration honors the day in mythology when Lord Brahma created the universe. This involves the worship of not just Brahmaji and the principal deities he created, such as Yaksha-Rakshasa, Gandharva, Rishi-Sages, rivers, mountains, animals, birds, insects, and mites, but also illnesses and their cures. Today marks the beginning of the new Samvatsar.
The myth behind Gudi Padwa
Tales and mythological connections exist about Gudi Padwa.
The Brahma Purana, one of the most venerated Hindu scriptures, tells the story of how Lord Brahma stopped time and rebuilt the universe after a terrible accident claimed everyone’s lives. This day signified the start of the period of justice and truth as well as the turning back of time because of Brahma’s efforts. People worship Lord Brahma on this day for this reason.
Another tradition states that Lord Rama, along with Sita and Laxman, returned to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile. The occasion honors Lord Rama’s triumph against Ravana. Therefore, Gudi, also known as Brahma’s flag, is raised in homes in a manner similar to how it was raised in Ayodhya as a victory flag (according to legend) following Rama’s defeat of Ravana.But Gudi has more historical significance than that. History suggests that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj rescued the state’s citizens from Mughal rule by defeating the Mughals. One of the primary causes for Maharashtrians’ celebration of Gudi on this day is this. It is said that the flag keeps evil spirits away from houses.
How do people celebrate Gudi Padwa?
People clean up their homes and courtyards in preparation for the celebration, which mainly honors the start of a new year. On this day, a traditional oil bath is necessary. Women use “Rangolis” in a variety of patterns and hues to adorn the entry doors. It is customary to wear new clothing, particularly kurta-pajamas and sarees.The most important activity possibly performed during this festival is the hoisting of Gudi. After the hoist of the Gudi, people form human pyramids and get on to the structure to go inside and break the coconut that is present inside. This important festive rite is therefore celebrated in almost all parts of Maharashtra. This ceremony is exclusive only to the men and the young boys only. Of all the ceremonious rites that are welcome in the festival, eating of neem leaves is one of them. They can be eaten fresh or dried and you can just chew on the leaves or can temper the seeds, mix with other seeds and jaggery to make chutney. Other dishes are made on this day such as shrikhand, which is a sweet dish served with puri, chana, puran poli and sonth panak.
Rituals of Gudi Padwa
Every home in Maharashtra has an age-old ‘Gudi’ flag at home and it is celebrated mostly in March. The “gudi” is a long bamboo pole wherein the green or yellow fabric with brocade work embellishes the end of the pole. The items left on the ‘gudi’ include an inverted copper pot, a few mango and neem leaves, some red flowers and a heap of sugar crystals; the ‘gudi’ is ideally positioned in a window or on the terrace where everyone can see it, and it should be on the right side of the house. This is supposed to help in protection from evil energy and attract wealth and fortunes into the home.
On this day people bathe and clean their houses. In addition they dress up and wear new dresses, distribute sweets and in return exchange Padwa wishes, besides they also draw rangoli at home.
The Gudi Padwa has associated eating and a variety of foods are prepared on this day. There is a certain combination of preserved tamarind paste and jaggery, mixed with neem leaves that is taken by people early in the morning. Other foods created include, Sanna, steamed spongy rice cakes, Kanangachi kheer coconut, jaggery, and sweet potato, Puran Poli, and Shrikhand.
For interesting astrology related videos, subscribe us on Youtube
Celebrations of Gudi Padwa in several states include:
Karnataka:
The Kannada people consider Gudi Padwa as having a lot of religious significance and people like to celebrate it. It is a time when people sit down and contemplate how the good always triumphs over the evil and say prayers for a bountiful, disease-free and a happy New Year. They prepare fantastic foods such as sour spice rice (Puliyogare), sweet lentil stuffing in dough (Holige) and sweet flat rice (Obbattu).
Tamil Nadu:
Observed with traditional enthusiasm, it is termed as Puthandu in Tamil Nadu. On this special day Tamil families draw beautiful kolams .One of the giant traditions involves cooking a special meal often called ‘Maanga Pachadi,’ a meal reflecting complex taste ratifying pleasure/ life/ existence: sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and sharpness. Some customs associated with Puthandu are that people wake up to see the ‘Kanni,’ that is, something good on that day. The Kanni is a wooden tray placed in the middle of the house in which various indispensable objects are placed neatly decorated such as gold silver betel nut, fruits and flowers. People thought that by watching the Kanni, they would be able to get bumper harvest and affluence in the next year.
For interesting reels, follow us on Instagram
Andhra Pradesh:
Ugadi is an important festival of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states which is celebrated as the first day of new year. On this day families maintain cleanliness in their houses, wake up early and decorate their houses with warm appealing powder colors in geometric patterns known as Rangoli. More than anything else, preparing “Ugadi pachadi”, which is the special Ugadi meal, is an important feature of the occasion. It is a combination of tastes which presents some moments in one’s life: sweet and sour, bitter and tangy, piquant. Special dinner is a joyous occasion for the family and the day is filled with togetherness and festivity. They cook and eat staple foods such as pesarattu (green gramme dosa), bobbatlu (sweet filled flatbread) and pulihora (tamarind rice).
Know more about astrology: acharyaganesh.com
