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GUDI PADWA AND UGADI CELEBRATING THE JOURNEY OF LIFE
GUDI PADWA
Date of Merriment: April
Place of Merriment:Maharashtra
For Maharashtrians, Gudi Padwa marks the auspicious beginning of the New Year. It falls on the first day 'shuddha pratipada' of Chaitra. It is auspicious time for building or entering a new house, putting a child to school, or starting a business. Gudi Padwa heralds the season of spring. Here the sun rays increases in intensity. The fruits of mangoes and jackfruits are flowing in the markets. Shrubs and trees are blooming into fragrant flowers.
Meaning of Padwa
The word 'Padwa' is originated from the Sanskrit word for crop called 'Pradurbhu'. In agricultural community, the word 'Padwa' marks the end of one harvest and the beginning of a new one. In the case of Gudi Padwa, it is celebrated at the end of the Rabi season.
Gudi Padwa - Festivities and Celebrations
On this day, Maharashtrians hang 'Gudis' outside the windows of their homes. They signify the victory of Marathas War fought by Chattrapati Shivaji. They are displayed to thwart off evils. A gudi is a pole on top with a kalash (brass or silver pot) hung upside down. It is covered with colorful silk cloth and decorated with coconuts, marigolds and mango leaves.
Maharashtrians welcome the New Year by worshipping Gudi. They distribute 'Prasad' comprising of tender neem leaves, tamarind, Ajwain, gram-pulse and jaggery. This is made into a paste, which is supposed to have some healing properties. They wear new clothes and relish special Maharashtrian delicacies like soonth panak and chana usal.
UGADI
Date of Ugadi celebration: March-April
Place of celebration: Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
Widely and popularly celebrated in Karantaka and Andhra Pradesh, Ugadi heralds the beginning of their New Year. In Telegu, the word 'Ugadi' means 'Start of a new era'.
For Telegus and Kannads, it marks the beginning of their calendar year, which is based on the Salivahana era. This day falls on the first day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Chaitra. They begin their day with ritual showers followed by prayers. They relish a traditional "Ugadi Pachhadi' or 'Beva Bella' mixture consisting of neem buds/jaggery, raw mango and tamarind juice. This symbolize that life is a mixture of pleasure and pain, which should be accepted together.
On this day, there is an informal elderly and scholarly social circle, gather together for 'Panchangaravanam'. They read and listen to the religious almanac 'Panchangam' of the coming year and the general predictions. Ugadi celebrations are marked by literary discussions and recognition of authors of literary works through awards and cultural programmes. On this day, recitals of classical carnatic music and dance are held in the evenings. Ugadi is a season of pickles. With raw mangoes available in plenty, women make good use of mangoes to last them until the next season. They pickle the mangoes with salt, powdered mustard and powdered dry red chilli and a lot of oil to float over the.
Special dishes like 'pulihora' and 'bobbatlu' are relished. In Karnataka, they make similar preparations called 'Puliogure' and 'holige'. Budding and professional poets at the 'Kavi Sammelanam' recite melodic couplets. They look forward to recite their poetic verses on different subjects ranging - from Ugadi - to politics to modern trends and lifestyles.