by Anika Ajgaonkar
New Year Celebrations Across the World is a series of articles describing the different New Years’ histories, traditions, and changes throughout different countries and cultures. Do note that a country, region, or larger culture can have many subcultures that may celebrate differently.
For many around the world, January 1 is the date that rings in the new year. However, with different cultures comes a variety of calendar systems and a diverse spread of New Year’s celebrations.
In Maharashtra and the Konkan region of India, the new year is celebrated on the first day of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, which consists of 12 months, similar to the Gregorian calendar. Each month has 28 days, with 13 for the waxing moon, one for the full moon, 13 for the waning moon, and one for the new moon. The first month of the Hindu calendar is Chaitra, which ranges from March to April, depending on the year. In 2021, the first day of the new year on the Hindu calendar falls on Tuesday, April 13, and is known as Gudi Padwa. Across India, this festival has various alternate names in different languages, such as Ugadi in Telugu, Yugadi in Kannada, and Cheti Chand in Sindhi.
Significance
Gudi Padwa is celebrated every year to signify the arrival of spring and welcome the New Year, in which the world awakens anew after the cold of winter. There are some key reasons why Gudi Padwa, the first day of Chaitra, is considered the beginning of a new year:
As the first day of the new year approaches, the Sun moves to the position where the equator and meridians intersect, and this alignment coincides with the beginning of Spring.
In Spring, as trees and flowers grow and the lush green vibrance of the Earth returns, so does another year.
It is said that the Hindu god, Brahma, created the universe on Gudi Padwa, marking the beginning of the Golden Age of Satya Yuga.
How is Gudi Padwa Celebrated?
Vital to every Gudi Padwa celebration is preparation of the Gudhi, which consists of a colorful silk cloth draped on a bamboo stick, along with boughs of neem leaves, mango leaves, and a garland of flowers. A copper pot, known as a Kalash, with a dot each of haldi (turmeric) and kumkum (vermillion) paste applied to it, tops this entire arrangement and signifies victory. A religious ceremony, or puja, is performed for the Gudhi minutes within sunrise. This time is suffused with divine energy; it is considered auspicious, and performing the puja of the Gudhi then is believed to ward away evil and bring prosperity and good luck for the New Year. The Gudhi is traditionally hoisted outdoors near the house, often by the door or on the terrace, so that it is visible to all. In Maharashtrian neighborhoods or apartment buildings, one may find a Gudhi outside each home, the colorful silk cloth waving in the breeze while the leaves and flowers sway along with it.
In the days preceding Gudi Padwa, people do a spring cleanup of their homes to beautify and prepare it for the new year. A toran (a long door decoration) of marigolds and mango leaves is hung from the front door, and some people draw beautiful rangoli, designs made with colored powder, near the entrance.
Businesses will often start new projects on Gudi Padwa and work to clear all remaining tasks from the previous year, such as debts or unfinished errands.
Attire
People purchase and wear new clothes on Gudi Padwa. Traditionally, women wear a Nauvari Sari while men don kurtas.
Nauvari Sari
The Nauvari Sari is a traditional Maharashtrian women’s garment consisting of an unstitched drape anywhere from 15 to 30 feet in length. The word “Nauvari” comes from the words “Nau,” the Marathi word for nine, and “vaar,” a unit of measurement equivalent to about 1 yard. In this sense, the length of a Nauvari Sari is 9 vaars, or about 27 feet. This long drape, embroidered with beautiful threads and embellishments, is wrapped around the waist and over the left shoulder, partially revealing the midriff. What sets the Nauvari apart from the other saris of India is its intricate draping style that varies even within Maharashtra. A matching blouse is worn underneath. The look is completed with ornate jewelry, such as colorful bangles, the traditional Maharashtrian nose ring, the nath, and a half-moon tikli/bindi between the eyebrows.
Kurta/Sadra
A kurta, or sadra, as it is known in Marathi, is a loose, traditionally collarless shirt (though collars are becoming increasingly mainstream nowadays for style) extending to the knees. It has full sleeves and buttons that may either be functional or stylistic, and is worn with loose pants called a salwar. Kurtas can be worn for daily usage, or for more formal occasions as well.
Food
There are many different dishes prepared for Gudi Padwa depending on the region, but one of the most iconic and universal sweets is Shrikhand Puri.
Shrikhand is a cold sweet dish especially popular in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Indian yogurt, called dahi, is first strained with a cheesecloth to remove as much water as possible. The thick and creamy remains are called chakka. Chakka is combined with sugar, dry fruits, and fragrant spices for flavoring, such as cardamom, nutmeg, and saffron. It’s then chilled in the refrigerator and served as a dessert.
Puri is a round, deep-fried bread made from unleavened whole-wheat flour and semolina. A dough is prepared with salt, water, and oil, rolled, and trimmed into small circles. When fried, the dough inflates into spheres and becomes crispy, golden-brown on the outside with a soft interior. Puri can be eaten with vegetable curry or with sweets such as Shrikhand, as is custom on Gudi Padwa.
At last, a small piece of hot puri is torn off and dipped into the chilled Shrikhand, resulting in a truly mouth-watering combination of sweet and savory.
Gudi Padwa is one of the most important festivals in Maharashtra, and marks new beginnings and prosperity for the new year. Although celebrated mostly in India, Marathi immigrants have spread their culture and traditions with them across the world. As Spring begins and the world blooms, I wish everyone celebrating a Happy Gudi Padwa, or, as they say in Marathi, गुढी पाडव्याच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा!
Sources
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5. The Times of India. (2021, April 10). Gudi Padwa 2021: Significance of Gudi Padwa festival, celebration and foods eaten. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/significance-of-gudi-padwa-festival-celebration-and-foods-eaten/photostory/81986692.cms.
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