GUDI PADWA 2017

Gudi Padwa, the famous Marathi festival marks the beginning of the New Year for the Maharashtrian masses. This popular festival is celebrated with great splendour and pomp in this region. Being highly important for the Maharashtrians, who dress up and prepare exceptional delicacies at home, the jubilee commemorates the start of the calendar for them. The occasion is marked by hanging a gudi outside the door or the windows. A gudi is a bamboo stick covered with a cloth or saree, with a garland round the neck of an inverted copper pot, which sits over the stick. The primary essence of Gudi is that it wards off the the evil spirits and brings in good fortune and prosperity into the family.

MUHURAT

DATE	DURATION
28 March, 2017	Prathama Tithi Begins- 08:28:49
29 March 2017	Prathama Tithi Ends- 05:46:30

In the year 2017, Gudi Padwa will be commemorated on 28th of March and it usually begins from the Pratipada of Shukla Paksha or bright fortnight of the Chaitra month. If Pratipada persists on the sunrises of 2 days, then the first day is considered for the celebration. If in case, Pratipada is not prevailing during the sunrise of any day, then it is celebrated on the day when Pratipada begins and ends.

ESSENCE OF THE DAY

Right on the day of the festival, Maharashtrians begin their day by eating jaggery and neem, which has many health benefits and enhances one’s immune system, thus keeping the diseases at bay. During the festival, many competitions keep the people intrigued, such as the best looking gudi, rangoli making and many more. According to the Hindu Calendar, the festival exemplifies the first day of the Chaitra month. Maharashtrians are not the only one to celebrate this festival, but the festival is also celebrated in South India as Ugadi. However, it is celebrated on the very same day as Gudi Padwa amongst the marathis.

POOJA VIDHI

Here are the key rituals that are associated with the celebrations of Gudi Padwa including the way to raise Gudi and the mantras to be recited on this particular day:-

1. The area where the Gudi is to be placed should be cleaned properly.
2. Below the Gudi a Swastika should be made on the ground.

Gudi Padwa Mantras

The following Mantras can be chanted or recited as per the pertinence of your worship procedures. Some people observe a fast on this particular day and Mantras for them are illustrated below:

Morning Vrat Sankalp:

ॐ विष्णुः विष्णुः विष्णुः, अद्य ब्रह्मणो वयसः परार्धे श्रीश्वेतवाराहकल्पे जम्बूद्वीपे भारतवर्षे अमुकनामसंवत्सरे चैत्रशुक्ल प्रतिपदि अमुकवासरे अमुकगोत्रः अमुकनामाऽहं प्रारभमाणस्य नववर्षस्यास्य प्रथमदिवसे विश्वसृजः श्रीब्रह्मणः प्रसादाय व्रतं करिष्ये।

Shodashopachara Puja Sankalp:

ॐ विष्णुः विष्णुः विष्णुः, अद्य ब्रह्मणो वयसः परार्धे श्रीश्वेतवाराहकल्पे जम्बूद्वीपे भारतवर्षे अमुकनामसंवत्सरे चैत्रशुक्ल प्रतिपदि अमुकवासरे अमुकगोत्रः अमुकनामाऽहं प्रारभमाणस्य नववर्षस्यास्य प्रथमदिवसे विश्वसृजो भगवतः श्रीब्रह्मणः षोडशोपचारैः पूजनं करिष्ये।

After the Puja, people who have kept fast can chant the following mantra:

ॐ चतुर्भिर्वदनैः वेदान् चतुरो भावयन् शुभान्।
ब्रह्मा मे जगतां स्रष्टा हृदये शाश्वतं वसेत्।।

LEGENDS BEHIND THE FESTIVAL

Gudi Padwa is basically a harvest festival. As India is primarily an agriculture based country and the festivals typically correlate to the beginning and finish of the agricultural seasons and so does the Gudi Padwa which marks the end of the Rabi season. This day has its own significance particularly among the Hindus as it is believed that on this day, Lord Brahma created the Universe. So, the devotees take a sacred oil bath, which is considered auspicious and propitious. This day is also commemorated to epitomize the coronation ceremony of Lord Rama when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after spending fourteen years in exile.

CELEBRATIONS OF GUDI PADWA

The celebration of the Gudi Padwa Festival is related to prosperity, comfort, fortune and well-being. Everything looks dazzling and coruscating and people dress up in traditional attires on this day. The day starts with prayers and then, exchange of gifts and sweets takes place between the relatives and friends. It is also a day of gourmandizing and people celebrate it with great zeal and enthusiasm followed by plenty of things which includes-

• On this day people wash their homes and they dispose off the waste & useless things in the house.
• People get their homes painted, and they decorate the entrance doorway with mango leaves.
• People also visit temples to seek the blessings of the God.
• People believe in hoisting the Gudi Flag. This flag is also known as Brahma Dhvaja (Flag of Brahma).
• Women in their house embellish the floors with beautiful rangoli designs.
• Women also prepare delicious dishes and desserts and there is a ritual of making “Puran-puri” on this special day.
• This is an auspicious time for the families to get together. People visit their old friends and those, who stay away in different places, express their well-wishes and give blessings through phone calls.

So, we at Astro Sage, wish you a very Happy Gudi Padwa!