Nitin Chandra Salgar

The New Year day of Maharashtrians, Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra. Gudi Padwa is also known as Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Marking the beginning of the spring season, this festival is celebrated with great spirit and joy. This year Gudi Padwa falls on Wednesday,30 March,2006.

In preparation for the festival, homes are cleaned and decorated. Colourful rangoli designs are painted at entrances to brighten up the thresholds. New clothes are worn and the entire family gathers together to savour Maharashtrian delicacies, including puran poli or sweet roti s, soonth pak and usal . Traditionally, bittersweet leaves of the neem tree are eaten on this day. A paste of crushed neem leaves, cumin seeds, jaggery and salt is taken before eating any food in the morning.

On this day, gudi s are hung outside the houses or in the localities. A gudi is a pole on the top of which an upturned brass or silver pot called a kalash is placed. The gudi is covered with a colourful silk cloth and decorated with marigold flowers, coconuts, and mango leaves that symbolize nature's bounty.

The gudi is worshipped by offering sandalwood paste, turmeric and vermilion. Then, boys and young men of the locality form a pyramid and the person on top of the pyramid breaks the coconut which is in the kalash .

Gudi Padwa is considered a very auspicious day. New ventures are begun, house-warming poojas are performed, and people also may choose to buy gold, silver or property on this day.

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