Gudi Padwa is an Indian Hindu spring Festival, which is celebrated every year, mostly in Maharashtra and Goa, in order to mark the beginning of the New Year.
According to the Hindu calendar, New Year is observed during the Chaitra months i.e., March-April. In different regions of the nation, the day is celebrated with different names as well as rituals. For instance, in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, the day is called Ugadi, in Jammu and Kashmir, the festival is popularly known as Navreh. Also, in Maharashtra, the Konkani community denotes Gudi Padwa as Samwatsara.
When is Gudi Padwa 2020?
The festival is observed on the first day of the Chaitra month, as per to Hindu Calender, and the day marks reaping of Rabi crops. The festival is celebrated every year, and this year in 2020, Gudi Padwa is falling on 25 March (Wednesday).
Gudi Padwa 2020 Tithi
- Gudi Padwa Date: Wednesday, 25th March 2020
- Pratipada Tithi Begins: 2:57 PM on 24 Mar 2020
- Pratipada Tithi Ends: 5:26 PM on 25 Mar 2020
What is the Significance of the festival?
Gudi Padwa is a very important festival in Hindu culture, especially for Marathis and Konkanis because as per the beliefs, Lord Brahma created the universe on this very day.
This festival is also celebrated to honor the coronation of Lord Ram. It is also believed that Lord Ram on this day returned to Ayodhya after his triumph over Ravana and people then welcomed him by raising the flags (like a gudi).
Gudi Padwa 2020 Celebration
People on this day, decorate their houses with lights, flowers as well as beautiful and colorful rangolis. Other than this, a Gudi is also installed at the main entrance of the house or else on one of the windows.
The Gudi is made with a wooden stick that is covered with a piece of bright red or yellow colored cloth. After that, a Kalash made of silver, copper or bronze is then also placed upside down on one end of the stick. A little bit of vermillion (kumkum) and turmeric (Haldi) is then applied on the outer surface of the Kalash.
Then everything is ensemble afterward and is called Gudi. The Gudi is placed outside the door or the window so that everyone in the neighborhood gets to see it. In addition to that, a garland made of sugar candy (saakhar gaathi) along with the neem leaves is also hung with the Gudi, placed outside the house. This ritual denotes the bitter and sweet experiences of life.
Marches are taken out and people made several dishes such as sakkar bhaat (sweet rice), shrikhand as well as Puran Poli. In addition, a special dish is also made on this day with the help of neem leaves and jaggery.
