Gudi Padwa is a spring festival marking the start of the traditional new year for Hindus, primarily for the Marathi and Konkani. It is celebrated in and around Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu at the start of Chaitra, the first month of the lunisolar Hindu calendar. The festival is observed with colourful floor decorations called rangoli, a special gudi dvaja (a saree or piece of cloth garlanded with flowers, mango, and neem leaves; a sugar crystal garland called gathi, topped with upturned silver or copper vessels), street processions, dancing, and festive foods.
In Maharashtra, the first day of the bright phase of the moon is called gudi padwa (), pādyo (; ; Telugu: పాడ్యమి, paadyami). Konkani Hindus variously refer to the day as sausāra pāḍawa or sausāra pāḍye (सौसार पाडवो and सौसार पाडयो, respectively). Telugu Hindus celebrate the same occasion as Ugadi, while Kannada Hindus in Karnataka refer to it as yugādi ( युगादि, ಯುಗಾದಿ). The Sindhi community celebrates the day as Cheti Chand and is observed as the emergence day of Jhulelal. Prayers are offered to Jhulelal, and the festival is celebrated by making delicacies like tahiri (sweet rice) and sai bhaji.
However, this is not the universal new year for all Hindus. For some, such as those in and near Gujarat, the new year festivities coincide with the five-day Diwali festival. For many others, the new year falls on Vaisakhi between 13 and 15 April, according to the solar cycle part of the Hindu lunisolar calendar and this is by far the most popular not only among Hindus of the Indian subcontinent but also among Buddhists and Hindus in many parts of Southeast Asia.
Etymology
Gudi means 'flag'; according to Kittel, the term is of South Indian origin. The word pāḍavā is derived from the Sanskrit word pratipad for the first day of each fortnight in a lunar month, or the first day on which the moon appears after the "new moon" day (amāvāsya) and the first day after the full moon. A Gudhi is also hoisted on this occasion, giving this festival its name. The term padva or padavo is also associated with Balipratipada.
Significance
Gudi Padva signifies the arrival of spring and the reaping of rabi crops. The festival is linked to the mythical day on which the Hindu god Brahma created time and the universe. To some, it commemorates the coronation of Rama in Ayodhya after his victory over Ravana, or the start of the Shalivahan calendar after he defeated the Huns in the first century. According to Anne Feldhaus, in rural Maharashtra, the festival is linked to Shiva's dance and the coming together of the community as they carry the Gudi Kavads together to a Shiva temple.
The guḍhī
During Gudi Padwa, gudi (or gudhi) are arranged at every household. It is a bright, colorful silk scarf-like cloth tied at the top of a long bamboo. On top of it, one or more boughs of neem and mango leaves are attached with a garland of flowers. It is capped with a silver, bronze, or copper pot (handi or kalash), signifying victory or achievement.
Some temples are located on the top of hills, and groups work together to help reach the kavad to the top.
Some of the significances attributed to raising a gudi are as follows:
It symbolises the victory of King Shalivahana and was hoisted by his people when he returned to Paithan. It symbolises Brahma's flag mentioned in the Brahma Purana, and may also represent Indra's flag. It is believed to ward off evil, invite prosperity and good luck into the house.
Festivities
Traditionally, families prepare a special dish that mixes various flavours, particularly the bitter leaves of the neem tree and sweet jaggery (gur, gul). Additional ingredients include sour tamarind and astringent dhane seeds. This, like the pacchadi recipe used in Ugadi festival, is eaten as a reminder of life's sweet and bitter experiences and a belief that the neem-based mixture has health benefits.