Maharashtra state in western India joyously celebrates the Harvest and new year in Gudi Padwa. Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month to mark the beginning of the New year according to the Hindu calendar.
On the festive day of Gudi Padwa, traditionally in villages courtyards of houses will be swept clean and plastered with fresh cow-dung. In present times, in the urban cities & towns, this tradition has transformed into people taking the time out to do some spring cleaning. People also meticulously decorate their houses, with women and children making intricate rangoli designs on their doorsteps. Everyone dresses up in new clothes and it is a time for family gatherings. Traditionally, families begin the festivities by eating the bittersweet leaves of the neem tree. Sometimes, a paste of neem leaves is prepared and mixed with dhane, gul/gur (known as jaggery in English), and tamarind. All the members of the family consume this paste; families also make shrikhand and Poori or Puran Poli on this day. Konkanis make Kanangachi Kheer, a variety of Kheer made of sweet potato, coconut milk, jaggery, rice flour, etc. and Sanna.
One of the distinct facets of Gudi Padwa is that on the day of Gudhi Padwa, a ‘Gudhi ‘ is found sticking out of a window or otherwise prominently displayed in traditional Maharashtrian households. Bright green or yellow cloth adorned with brocade (zari) tied to the tip of a long bamboo over which gaathi (sugar crystals), neem leaves, a twig of mango leaves and a garland of red flowers is tied. A silver or copper pot is placed in the inverted position over it. Altogether, it is called as Gudhi. It is hoisted outside the house, in a window, terrace or a high place so that everybody can see it.
The festival of Gudi Padwa is now celebrated in all parts of India and world over , where significant people Maharashtrian origin have made their home.
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(Photo Courtesy: Shree Salasar Balaji and Firoze Shakir)
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