Happy Gudi Padwa The Marathi  Hindu New Year To Everyone, Or As Some May Say The Original New Year In India. Also On This Day The Earth Was Fully Ready By Brahma And Earth Clock Started Ticking.

Gudi Padwa, Its not just Indian Sub-Continent New Year but its also the birthday of our planet earth and has many references in Asian culture and religion with different dates in our history sometimes have been placed on different occasions  as its based on Lunar Calendar and not the Solar Calendar.

So these variations add up to the mixed cultural and festive spirit and its best to study about it before assuming something half heartedly and I will cover the story with different easy to understand way.

Firstly the most important way to know who is celebrating this festival is only by checking their home front side which would be having an erected long bamboo or other wooden pole with some vessel  on the top side hanging around with a cloth. Its called Gudi and it plays an important role in the family festival thing which begins in early morning.

Secondly this is a big festival day but sadly with only 1 day holiday and I blame the Maharashtra government for ignoring the cultural activities of this day and hope that in future we get at least 2 to 5 days holiday.

Thirdly this is a huge shopping time, specially in Maharashtra there are offers starting from Gold Jewellery sellers for the house wifes, sisters, grandma in family etc.. Plus Real Estate Sellers, Car Dealers, Clothes Sellers and so on.
Its a huge rush everyone, as seen in Pune city central regions with countless offers from sellers and people actually buy sometimes in large numbers the things that they usually would rather shy away from.

Finally the traditional food is really delicious and you have a large number of sweet markets specially making the local favorite dish Shrikhand which is eating with lunch or dinner special Gudi Padwa dish. All the above pictures are from my house and I know you wish to take part in it and so I shall welcome you all someday for sure as guests

Well enough with my speaking and here’s a short summery from our most trusted source WikiPedia.org on the history of Gudi Padwa and its significance in the Indian history.

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Gudi Padwa or Gudhi Padwa (Marathi: गुढी पाडवा) is the Marathi name for the Hindu holy day of Chaitra ShuklaPratipada.^[1] It is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month to mark the beginning of the New year according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar. It is theorized that Padwa is the origin of the term “Pagwah”, a synonymous title used in Guyana and Trinidad for Holi.

Different variations:
Known as Gudhi Padwa in Maharashtra, this festival is also known as
Samvatsar Padvo among Hindu Konkanis of Goa
Yugadi among the rest of Konkani diaspora in Karnataka and Ugadi in Andhra pradesh

In rest of India:
Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh
Yugadi in Karnataka
Cheti Chand among the Sindhi people.

Etymology:
The word padwa is derived from the Sanskrit word Pratipada for first day of a lunar month i.e. first day after new moon day (Amavasya). A Gudhi is also erected on this occasion giving this festival its name. The term padwa or padavo is also associated with Balipratipadathe third day of Diwali which is another celebration that comes at the end of the harvesting season.

Significance:

1. Chronological:

Being the first day of the first month of a year, Gudhi Padwa is the New Year’s Day for Marathi people.

2. Agricultural:
India is a predominantly agrarian society. Thus celebrations and festivals are often linked to the turn of the season and to the sowing and reaping of crops. This day 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 the Rabi season.

3. Astrological:
Gudhi Padwa is one of the Sade-Teen Muhurtas (translation from Marathi: 3 and a half auspicious dates) in the Indian Lunar calendar. The full list is as follows
Gudi Padwa – 1st Tithi of Chaitra (Bright Half)
Vijayadashami – 10th Tithi of Ashwin
Balipratipada – 1st Tithi of Kartika (Bright Half)
Akshaya Tritiya.

4. Historical:
This day also commemorates the commencement of the Shalivahana calendar after he defeated hunas in battle.

5. Religious:
According to the Brahma Purana, this is the day on which Brahma created the world after the deluge and time began to tick from this day forth.

6. Seasonal:
In 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 Vasanta ritu or the spring season.

Read More At WikiPedia.Org Gudi Padwa Article.

Thanks to everyone and feel free to share this article, share your festival pictures and story’s with us or your friends etc. Happy Gudi Padwa.

Best wishes,
Anand Nav
www.aadreams.com