Key Facts of Gudhi Padwa for #FestivalChallenge Quiz

[ModNomad]

Glorifying Triumphs & Rejoicing To Welcome Hindu New Year

Signaling a vibrant start of spring, GUDHI PADWA will be celebrated with great fervor on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada – the first day of the lunisolar Hindu calendar (falling in March or April of the Gregorian calendar).

A new hope, a new beginning, a new dream is waiting to unfold – May this New Year sprinkle your way with heaps of joys unheard & untold. 🙏

Know the spot-on time⏲ as per Hindu panchang for the upcoming celebrations:

तिथि Date – Saturday, 02 April 2022

प्रतिपदा तिथि प्रारंभ Pratipada Tithi Begins - 01 April 2022, 11:53 am IST (UTC +5.30)

प्रतिपदा तिथि समाप्त Pratipada Tithi Ends - 02 April 2022, 11:58 pm IST (UTC +5.30)

GUDHI is an emblem of victory – Hence the festival is all about glorifying triumphs, celebrating successes, and welcoming the new with reverence & revelry.

Do you want to know why GUDHI PADWA is adored with awe in the Hindu Calendar?

Undoubtedly, the iconic GUDHI drives away evil… brings in good fortune… and stuffs opulence into your house.

• Gudhi a decorated bamboo stick is draped with yellow/red colored cloth. Ornate copper or silver pot is inverted on top and proudly hoisted on house entrances. Embellishments on the flag include silk saree, flower garland, sugar candy & neem leaves.
• Unique & highly auspicious among the Muhurtas (Saadhe-Teen Muhurta) it is the perfect juncture to perform sacred family rituals like marriage, Grah Pravesh (housewarming), embarking on a new business venture, or making strategic investments.
• Doll up and hoist the GUDHI within 5–10 minutes immediately after sunrise offering divine prayers. Bitter-sweet neem prasad is a must-have for better health.
• Historically, as per Brahma Purana, it is on this day Lord Brahma recreated the earth after its destruction by Pralay (Annihilation). Lord Brahma is worshipped on this day.
• Imposingly symbolizing triumph, GUDHI represents ‘Brahma Dhwaj’ a victory flag whereas PADWA denotes the first day of the new phase of the moon. PADWA originated from Sanskrit “Pratipada” the first day of  Hindu panchang (almanac).

Each of the GUDHI’s embellishments is symbolic having immense significance due to intrinsic characteristics. 

I have tried my best to depict them in the infographic given below: 

Infographic on Gudhi’s significance created by @ModNomad in Canva. Gudhi image courtesy: Dreamstime

No wonder, India is a land brimming with exquisite cultural heritage – In all places though the key objective is identical – Gudhi Padwa festival takes up distinctive names in the beautifully diverse states of India:

• RONGALI or BOHAG BIHU in Assam – Bihu means ‘Excessive Joy’
• Ugadi in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana. Ugadi (Yugadi) in Sanskrit means yuga (age) and ādi (beginning): "the beginning of a new age."
• Puthandu in Tamil Nadu – Also known as Puthuvarudam or Chithirai Thirunal. Tamil people greet each other by saying "Puthāaṇdu vāazhthugal” or "Iṉiya puthaandu” which implies “Happy New Year”
• Vishu in Kerala – Vishu derived from Sanskrit ‘Viṣuvam’ means 'equal' - derived from the celebration of “spring equinox” in the past.
• Navreh in Jammu and Kashmir – “Goddess Sharika” is worshipped by the Kashmiri Pandits during the Navreh festival.
• Pahela BOishakh in West Bengal – In Bengali ‘Pahela’ means first and ‘Boishakh’ means the first month of the Bengali calendar
• Samvatsar Padvo by Hindu Konkanis of Goa and Konkani diaspora in Kerala
• Vaisakhi or Baisakhi in Punjab – Sikhs hold kirtans, visit local Gurdwaras, community fairs, hold nagar kirtan processions, raise the Nishan Sahib flag,
• Cheti Chand among the Sindhi people – Also known as Chetri Chand, celebrations comprise fairs, feast parties, processions with jhankis (glimpse stage) of Jhulelal (an avatar of Varun Dev)
• Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba in Manipur – Also called Meetei Cheiraoba or Sajibu Cheiraoba.
• Indians in Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, and many other countries celebrate Hindu New Year with great fanfare.

Myths & Legendary Folklore About Gudhi Padwa Celebrations:

• Gudhi Padwa commemorates the coronation of Lord Rama in Ayodhya after his victory over evil king Ravana.
• The descendant of Shalivahan Dynasty, Gautamiputra Satakarni defeated the Sakas and began “Shalivahana Shaka Calendar”, in 78 A.D., on GUDHI PADWA,
• The day also signifies the end of cruel king Vali of the Monkey Empire by Lord Rama thereby saving the kindhearted Sugreev.
• In the Ugadi ritual, it is on this day Lord Vishnu in the form of Matsya Avatar (Fish) slew the demon named Sambhabakasura to retrieve the Vedas hidden by him in the seas and handed it over back to Lord Brahma. After getting back the vedas Lord Brahma created the universe.
• Tradition of raising the GUDHI was also followed by indomitable warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj after his victory over the Mughals. Since then, Marathi households piously follow it to welcome the New Year.
• As per Anne Feldhaus in rural Maharashtra Gudhi Padwa is linked to Lord Shiva’s dance and the coming together of the community. They carry the Gudhi (Kavads) together to the nearest Lord Shiva temple.

10 Technical & Proven Facts Of GUDHI PADWA You Simply Cannot Ignore

• House entrances decorated with fresh mango leaves bring in a lot of fresh air helping to create a super tranquil ambiance.
• Neem leaves attached in the Gudhi purify 8 directions & 16 zones of Vaastu (home) by emitting positive frequencies.
• When family members come together to hoist the Gudhi their mind power is also activated by the positive vibes. Ultimately, during the entire process, a higher level of the energy field is generated around the Gudhi.
• Why the Gudhi is to be hoisted & worshiped within 5-10 minutes of sunrise? Because on this day at sunrise the Tej & Prajapati frequencies are highly effective and the Chaitanya (Divine Consciousness) emanating from these frequencies can be retained for a longer period.
• Highly recommended bitter-sweet Prasad of crushed neem leaves + jaggery purifies blood and strengthens your immune system. Neem (Azadirachta indica) kills intestinal parasites. It is a powerful medicine for a myriad of ailments.
• Jaggery used in Prasad & sweets increases blood haemoglobin levels and provides your body with additional energy. Sugarcane strengthens teeth, fights against germs, and is also an effective tool to cure jaundice.
• Water in the copper Kalash or silver pot of the Gudhi is drank the next day. You get lots of positive energy from the Sun that’s condensed in the water.
• It is a tradition to wake up before sunrise apply castor oil to the head and then take a bath. Castor oil is an ideal cooling agent that helps adapt our body to the humid conditions as the earth is charged up at this time of the year.
• गाठी (Sugar bales) in the sweet garland – Made of simple sugar, it is a powerhouse of energy that’s present in many carbohydrates.
• Not just welcoming guests and making them comfortable, the beautiful Rangoli also has worthwhile ingredients that keep your house germ-free. Before entering anyone’s house people focus on the geometric rangoli patterns leaving behind their negative energies. Consequently, they bring inside only the positive vibes. Vice-versa when you head out to work seeing the freshly made designs you get charged up for the day.

Have I missed essential points about the celebrations in your state?  Feel free to add them in the comments to enrich my knowledge. @NareshDarji @Tushar_Suradkar @Tejal @ajitthite @Globe_trotter_Ish 

Gear up for an exciting trivia quiz on Gudhi Padwa & Hindu New Year coming up in April 2022. Good Luck👍

ADDITIONAL STUDY MATERIAL TO MAKE YOU QUIZ READY

To add to your knowledge, you shouldn't miss these two delightful posts by my LG friend Smita Patil. She has beautifully depicted the niceties of the festival  including the well-known shobha yatra - a sparkling road show held every year with pomp & vigor in Girgaon. Here are the links:-

1) Gudi Padwa - Celebration of Hindu New Year in Maharashtra

2) Girgaon Shobha Yatra - 2022

Thanks, @RosyKohli Madam for including me on the host panel for a festival dearest to my heart.❤️

🎙HOSTS: @Shrut19 & @ModNomad [ #Festival Challenge Gudhi Padwa Trivia Quiz ]  

#State Challenge by @Denise_Barlock & @jayasimha78

[Tushar_Suradkar]

Excellent post and compilation of information about the Marathi New Year, dear @ModNomad 🙏

I especially like the photo with the meaning - did not previously know the meaning of all these.

And will definitely try to participate in the challenge 👍

[Shrut19]

नमस्कार,

@ModNomad 

अप्रतिम फोटो व माहितीपूर्ण पोस्ट, किती छान मांडली आहे तुम्ही ... वाह सुंदर 🚩

शेअर केल्याबद्दल धन्यवाद..

[ModNomad]

Thanks @Tushar_Suradkar for the compliments.🙏 I am delighted and more than happy to write about my favorite festival. So glad you liked the infographic. Eager to see you in the challenge fun quiz.

[ModNomad]

खूप खूप धन्यवाद  @Shrut19 श्रुत ताई.🙏 आपणास मजकूर आवडला हे ऐकून अतिशय आनंद झाला.😀

[jayasimha78]

@ModNomad Thanks for sharing this wonderful post. Looking forward to the meetup.

[Smita_Patil]

व्वा! गुढी-पाडव्याबद्दल खूप विस्तृत पोस्ट आहे. मला त्याबद्दल अनेक नवीन गोष्टी कळल्या. शेअर केल्याबद्दल धन्यवाद @ModNomad 

[TravellerG]

Very well conceived, post, my dear @ModNomad ...

Congratulations...

You have filled the post with a lot of very valuable information - thanks for sharing...

Surely will try to add our festival soon...

Surely shall try to join the challenge...

Best wishes for all success...

👍🙏

[ModNomad]

You are welcome @jayasimha78.🙏 Good luck for the Quiz 👍

[ModNomad]

Dear @TravellerG, Puthāaṇdu vāazhthugal🙏 I am so glad you appreciated my efforts. Thanks a lot. Eager to learn more about the vibrant Chithirai Thirunal celebrations. Waiting to see your post soon. Spread the word and good luck for the Quiz 👍