Gudi Padwa is a New Year’s day for some regions in India. It is celebrated on the first day of first month Hindu month Chaitra according to lunar calender. It is also one of most auspicious days in the year to start new venture.
In Maharashtra, this day is celebrated as called Gudhi Padwa. In Karnataka and Andra Pradesh, it is celebrated as Ugadi/Yugadi. Kashmiri Hindu’s celebrated it as Navreh. For Sindhi people it is celebrated as Cheti Chand (Birthday of patron saint Jhulelal).
It is believed that Lord Rama returned to Aayodhya on this day after 14 years of ‘Vanvaas’. To welcome Rama, people decorated pathways with big and bright rangolis and everybody hoisted gudhi. In Maharashtra, people wake up early morning. The doorways are decorated with bright rangolis. The gudhi is hoisted outside of window/ terrace/ balcony. The gudhi is nothing but very long Bamboo stick. It is decorated with new and bright colored saree/cloth, Neem leaves, ganthi( garland of sugar crystals), mango leaves. To hold all these together, a pot of copper / silver is placed upside down over it. As a prasad, a mixture of Neem leaves, Chana dal and jaggery is made.
