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India can be described as the mystic land of hundred festivals. With too many states, regions, cultures and people, the festivals are also numerous. New Year is celebrated differently in every state of the nation. The people of Maharashtra celebrate New Year’s Day as Gudi Padwa. It is celebrated on the first day of the chaitra month. New Year in West Bengal is known as Naba Barsho and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Gudi Padwa celebration marks the beginning of the spring season. People celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm and joy. Every year, Gudi Padwa falls on 13th April.There are various stories associated with the festive event of Gudi Padwa. It is believed that Lord Brahma created this universe on this auspicious occasion. Hence, it is celebrated as New Year’s beginning, New Year’s month and New Year’s Day. When this universe was shaped, it was named as ‘Satyug’ or the ‘Age of Truth and Justice’. Besides, yet another mythological event that took place on this day was that Lord Rama killed King Bali and returned to Ayodhya after a long time.
Preplanning starts before the main event of Gudi Padwa. Houses are cleaned and colorful ‘rangoli’ designs are drawn at entrances. People wear new clothes on this day and exchange sweets. They visit their relatives or call them over for a small get together. Maharashtrian delicacies are prepared for everyone and the traditional puran polis or sweet rotis are the center of attraction. Besides, they also make ‘soonth pak’ and ‘usal’. Indeed, gudi padwa is an auspicious celebration time when people of Maharashtra also perform housewarming pujas.
According to a ritual, Maharashtrians eat bittersweet leaves of the neem on this day. Paste is prepared with neem leaves, jaggery, cumin seeds and salt that is eaten before anything else in the morning. As the name suggests, gudis or banners are hung outside on the entrance. In fact, a ‘gudi’ is a pole where a silver pot called a ‘kalash’ is placed. It is then covered with a colorful silk cloth and decorated with marigold flowers, coconuts, and mango leaves that symbolize bountifulness and new life. After the gudi has been worshipped by sandalwood paste, turmeric and vermilion, several boys make a pyramid and break the coconut placed in the kalash.
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