Gudi Padwa is considered as one of the three auspicious occasions for buying new things or starting new projects. It is celebrated throughout Maharashtra by Hindus. However, this festival is also celebrated in other parts of India by other names. Read on to know more about Gudi Padwa Celebration.

Gudi Padwa marks the beginning of Hindu New Year. Gudi Padwa is basically celebrated in Maharashtra. However, people from other States like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh also celebrate this festival as a beginning of New Year. In Karnataka and Andra Pradesh it is known as Ugadi or Yugadi. Have a quick look at how Gudi Padwa is celebrated in Maharashtra.

Significance of Gudi Padwa

Gudi Padwa is celebrated to welcome Hindu New Year. According to Hindu mythology, people install Gudi in front of their house to celebrate the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana. The Kalash on the top of stick with a nice piece of cloth is considered as a symbol of victory. Therefore, people install Gudi in front of the main gate to celebrate the victory of good over evil. People also worship Gudi on the day of Gudi Padwa and at the same time they do lot of preparations to welcome Hindu New Year.

Gudi Padwa Celebration

Here is how Gudi Padwa preparations are done every year for welcoming the New Year.

Cleaning the House

To welcome New Year people clean their houses. People also change the curtains of house and decorate the house. In fact people wait till the occasion of Gudi Padwa if they want to do renovation of their house, paint the house, and get new flooring for the house etc. Therefore, just like Diwali, people clean their houses for welcoming New Year and welcoming prosperity in house.

Shopping

Shopping is the most important aspect of this festival. People do lot of shopping on the occasion of Gudi Padwa. People buy gold and silver ornaments, gold coins, new clothes, and consumer durable products like TV, fridge, microwave and new vehicles on the auspicious day of Gudi Padwa. People also buy new house on the occasion of Gudi Padwa as it is considered as one of the three auspicious occasions for buying new things. The frequency of people shopping increases during this festival and as such there are lots of shopping offers available during this time.

Decorating the Main Door

On the occasion of Gudi Padwa, main door is decorated with garlands and traditional items like toran. Toran is considered as an auspicious item with which door is decorated on the auspicious occasions like Gudi Padwa or Diwali. Colourful rangoli design is also drawn in front of main door to welcome New Year, wealth and prosperity on the occasion of Gudi Padwa.

Installing Gudi

On the day of Gudi Padwa, each and every family member gets up early in the morning. All of them get dressed up in new and traditional dresses. All family members gather together for installing Gudi in front of the main gate. Gudi is prepared by taking a long stick, a nice cloth which is mainly red, green, yellow or pink in colour and a traditional Kalash. The colourful cloth is placed on stick in such a way that it appears like a flag. Kalash is placed inverted on the flag. After the preparation of basic Gudi, garlands, haldi-kumkum, rice etc; is offered to the Gudi and it is installed in front of the main gate. Once it is installed, rangoli is drawn at the foot of Gudi.

Worshiping Gudi

After the Gudi is installed all family members worship the Gudi. According to Hindu mythology, worshipping Gudi brings lot of wealth, prosperity and happiness into the house and also gives good health. Hindu families also visit temples to worship Gods and Goddesses on the occasion of Gudi Padwa.

Gudi Padwa Feast

There is Gudi Padwa feast at each and every Hindu's house. Lots of delicious food items are prepared like halwa, puri, shrikhand, mithai on this day. People also buy ready made sweets on this day. People do invite each other for the feast on the occasion of Gudi Padwa. At the same time each and every family member is present for have Gudi Padwa feast together.

In this way Gudi Padwa is celebrated throughout Maharashtra. Lot of ceremonies like house warming ceremonies, puja ceremonies, inauguration of new shops etc; are conducted on the auspicious day of Gudi Padwa. People gather together, organise various events like dance competitions, processions, traditional games on the occasion of Gudi Padwa. People greet each other and exchange sweets on the occasion of Gudi Padwa and welcome New Year together.

What is Gudi and how can we prepare Gudi? Which food items and sweets are prepared on the occasion of Gudi Padwa? Where is Gudi put up? To share your views and experiences, click here.