Thursday, March 23, 2017

How Significant Is The Festival Of Gudi Padwa?


One of the most auspicious dates of the Hindu calendar, Gudi Padwa is basically a Maharashtrian festival, where the natives consider this day to be the New Year Day, and very sudpicious for any new beginnings. The word ‘Padwa’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Padhavo’ meaning the brightest phase of the moon. The symbolic events of the Hindu calendar are marked as per the phase of the sun and moon; thus bringing in this auspicious day every year somewhere in the end of March or beginning of April. This day falls on the first day of Chaitra Navratri, and this year the auspicious date of 29th March 2017.


The Marathas began the tradition of unfurling their flag on the first day of Chaitra Navratri, ever since Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj hoisted the flag on this day. Since then, this ritual has been followed every year on Gudi Padwa. For Maharashtrians, Gudi Padwa is a state holiday, and marks the start of the feasting period up till Akshaya Tritiya. Apart from the Maharashtrians, this day is celebrated by people in different regions and of different religions by different names. Gudi Padwa is popular as Ugadi in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh; Yugadi in Karnataka; Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba in Manipur; Samwatsar Padvo in Goa and Konkan; Navroz amongst Parsis; Cheti Chand amongst Sindhis; and Navreh amongst Kashmiri Pandits.

Significance of Gudi Padwa
·        The significance of Gudi Padwa dates back to when Lord Brahma re-created the world after it was destroyed due to Pralaya, a huge massive flood. This has been stated in the Brahma Purana; and people celebrate this day to thank the Lord for his act of recreating mankind.
·        For the farming communities, this day is of utmost importance as it is considered the first day of the harvest season. Gudi Padwa marks the end of the Rabi harvesting season, and sets in the Kharif harvesting season.
·        On the day of Gudi Padwa, the sun is believed to position itself above the point of intersection between the Meridians and the Equator, which makes the seasonal change and beginning of spring or Vasant Rutu. Also, the sun is at the starting point of entering the first zodiac sign – Aries – on this day.

Gudi Padwa is one of the three and a half auspicious day; the other two being Akshaya Tritiya and Vijaya Dashami. In Hinduism, this is auspiciously known as the ‘Sade-Teen Muhurat’ when any kind of new beginnings can be commenced without looking for a particular auspicious time. So, whatever new beginning you have been waiting for – buying a piece of land, buying a property, entering a new home, starting a new business, or buying a new car – sign up for this day to avail the best benefit out of your possession. You can also have MakeMyPuja Pandits perform an appropriate Puja to help seek God’s blessings in every new venture, as they are experts in performing result-oriented Bhoomi Puja, Car Puja, Griha Pravesham Puja, New Business Puja, and lots more.

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