Gudi Padwa

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Gudi Padwa

Wednesday, March 29, 2006 10:19:30 IST

By Ruby Lilaowala

Hindus follow two calendars viz the Shalivahaan and the Vedic.

While most Hindus go by the Shalivahaan, the Arya Samaj Hindus follow

the Vedic calendar.

According to Vedic literature, Gudi Padwa is celebrated to commemorate

the birth of man in the first month of the year which is Chaitra. It

seems that God created man on this day and hence, there is a religious

significance to the festivities.

Traditional Hindu families decorate the entrance to their homes with

auspicious symbols by way of rangolis on the floor and garlands of

flowers (toran) on the doorway. These torans have flowers intercepted

with mango-leaves. The main attraction in every home is the Gudi which

is a long clean bamboo-stick which has to be longer than the roof. It

is tied on its upper end with a silk cloth and a silver pot. Then, it

is decorated with floral garlands, haldi and kumkum (all auspicious

symbols) and kept in front of the house since it is a symbol to

welcome the entire pantheon of Gods and Goddesses into the house.

Since Indian culture is supposed to treat visitors as Gods (Atithi

Devo Bhava), this Gudi makes a welcoming metaphor for the guests who

may visit the home on this day. In fact, there is also a

mini-ceremony, a sort of auspicious ritual to make visitors feel

welcome which is called Atithi Yagna.

It is the head of the family who erects the Gudi-stick. This is

followed by a puja of this stick, usually done by the wife. This

ritualistic practice by the elder couple of the household signifies an

invitation to all the Celestial-couples among the pantheon of Deities

to come to Earth and visit their home and shower their blessings on

each and every member of the family.

Gudi padwa is celebrated on a bigger scale in rural areas perhaps

because of open spaces outside homes. City-homes are often cramped and

congested and hence, lots of compromises need to be made like smaller

bamboos, tiny silver pot (and garlands) and making the gudi on

balconies of flats. The essence and tradition of the festival has

religious fervour as it is the first day of the New Year for

Maharashtrians.

This auspicious day (Padwa) also heralds the season of spring (Vasant

Ritu). The treatise on health of the Aryans viz Ayurveda prescribes

taking dhania, neem leaves and jaggery during this season for optimum

health.

In the Shalivahaan calendar, this day is called "Shalivahaan-Shaka"

since legend has it that on this day King Shalivahaan vanquished the

Shakas after a prolonged battle of good over evil.

Since symbolism plays a big role in the Hindu religion, the symbols of

the bamboo-stick, silk-cloth, flowers, torans and rangoli complete the

celebrations on this auspicious day which is also a day of

spiritual-sadhana and connecting to one's inner-self so that one may

ultimately connect to the Supreme Reality. It is a day to regenerate

oneself spiritually along the upward spiral of human evolution. A new

year's day, a day of spiritual stock-taking and laying out plans for

the next 365 days of spiritual growth.

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