Gudi Padwa is the
Hindu New Year Day. So, this is the first day of Chaitra month which is the
first month of Hindu New Year. This festival is usually celebrated every year
in the month of March or April. Gudi Padwa is the day when Brahma recreated the
world after massive destruction. On this very day, people clean their house and
hung Gudi outside and wear new clothes. Women make rangoli on their house main
entrance. People eat bittersweets made up of neem tree leaves. People of Goa
and Maharashtra cook a variety of vegetarian cuisines at their home including
Kheer, Sanna, Poori, coconut milk, Sweets, Puran polis, Shrikhand, and sweet
potato and distribute among friends and relatives.
The celebration includes folk dancers performance take place in
Gaondongri, Sanguem, and Sattari. This festival is celebrated on the first day
of Chaitra month on the Hindu Lunisolar calendar. Gudi Padwa is believed to the
best time to begin any new venture, whether it is business, marriage or house construction;
it is good to begin on this day. This festival is famous with the name
Samvatsar Padvo in Goa. In some parts of Goa, Gudi Padwa day often comes just
after Shigmo festival.
In numerous places of
Goa, the New Year is celebrated with cultural dance performances on the just
before the Gudi Padwa day. Besides the performance of Virbhadra, a folk dance
called Ghodemodni is performed in Nanoda, Bicholim.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Gudi Padwa is
actually a harvest festival that celebrates the Rabi crops harvesting. People
express their gratitude to God for the blessing of having a good yield by
celebrating this festival. The festival of Gudi Padwa is associated with Hindu
mythology. According to Hindu legends, it is believed that the universe was
created by Lord Brahma on the day of Gudi Padwa. It is also believed that Lord
Brahma introduced days, weeks, months, and years on this very day. Hence, Lord
Brahma is worshipped on the occasion of Gudi Padwa.
The festival of Gudi
Padwa holds a lot of significance for the people of Maharashtra and Goa.
According to some legends, Lord Brahma created the universe on this day.
However, according to other legends, the day of Gudi Padwa is important as it
marks the coronation ceremony of Lord Rama after his homecoming to Ayodhya with
Sita and Lakshmana after 14 years of exile.
Gudi
flags, made from colorful silk scarves tied on top of bamboo sticks with neem
leaves, mango flowers and Saakhar gaathi (sugar candy garland) on the top end,
are hoisted by people in Goa and Maharashtra. People make rangolis and also
prepare sweet and savoury food items. People also decorate their houses and
begin the day with a ritualistic bath, which is followed by prayers.
