Gudi Padwa

Gudi Padwa is one of the three and a half auspicious moments. On this day, the new year begins. The Shalivahana Shaka also started on this day. Earlier, a gudi was erected in the yard of the house after leveling the ground with cow dung and drawing rangoli there. 

Lord Ramachandra killed Ravana and won over Lanka, and the day he returned to Ayodhya was Chaitra Shuddha Pratipada. The people of Ayodhya expressed their joy by hoisting gudis and torans in every home. 

Before erecting the gudi, oil should be applied to the stick and it should be washed with hot water. While setting up the gudi, metal vessels (brass, silver, copper), neem leaf bundles, zari cloth, or sugarcane garlands should be tied. For the meal, mainly khir or puranavarni is prepared. The bitter chutney of neem leaves is also made mandatorily on this day.

Before starting the meal, this chutney should be eaten first and then the rest of the food. This chutney is good for health. Also, the idea is to digest the bitterness and start the new year sweetly. 

Courtesy – Family Deity: Ajit Patwardhan