Gudi Padwa 2023 Holiday (Wednesday, 22nd March 2023)
In Maharashtra, Gudi Padwa holiday is celebrated with passion and enthusiasm. It is celebrated during spring, which marks the New Year for Marathi Hindus and Konkani Hindus. In honor of the region’s rich history and culture, women fill the streets in vibrant and colourful attire. Gudi Padwa 2023 festival is also celebrated as Ugadi by the people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
| Gudi Padwa 2023 Date | 22nd March 2023 |
| Day | Wednesday |
| Gudi Padwa Significance | People hoist Gudi to commemorate the victory of good over evil. |
| Also Called as | Samvatsar Padvo, Marathi New Year, Hindu New Year |
| Muhurat | Pratipada Tithi Begins – 10.52 p.m. on 21 March 2023 Pratipada Tithi Concludes – 8:20 p.m on 22 March 2023 |
When is Gudi Padwa in 2023?
According to the Hindu calendar New Year, Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra. This usually falls between March and April, as per the Gregorian calendar. This year the festival will be celebrated on 22 March 2023. In Maharashtra, the Gudi Padwa festival is quite famous and is also known as Marathi new year. People celebrate this festival with vibrant street processions, dancing, and festive foods.
Gudi Padwa 2023 Shubh Muhurat
In Hinduism, Chaitra Navarati’s Pratipada date marks the beginning of the new year. On this day every year, this festival of Gudi Padwa is celebrated by tying Gudi (flag or Vijaya Pataka) outside the house and worshipping it.
To make this ritual more auspicious, people celebrate according to Gudi Padwa Muhurat.
According to the Panchang, the Pratipada Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the Chaitra month will begin at 10.52 p.m. on 21 March 2023, and will conclude at 8:20 p.m on 22 March 2023. Therefore according to Udayatithi, Gudi Padwa 2023 will occur on 22 March this year.
How is Gudi Padwa Celebrated?
Because of its historical significance, Gudi Padwa holiday is widely celebrated with major zeal. On this auspicious day, people use flowers and colourful powder to make rangoli on the floor of their homes. People also create a unique Gudi flag with different flowers and leaves of mango and neem and crowned upside-down silver or a copper container. Then after taking a holy bath in a river, both men and women visit a temple for prayers in traditional attire.
On Gudi Padwa holiday, women prepare sweets and authentic dishes like Sunth Paak, Puran Poli, Shrikhand, and many more. They also prepare Gudi Padwa Prasad (a bittersweet Prasad) using neem leaves with jaggery. This signifies the journey through life’s trials and tribulations. On this Gudi Padwa holiday, Maharashtra hosts street processions known as Prabhat Pheri, followed by a dance and food festival.
Rituals of Gudi Padwa
- Devotees welcome the day with oil bath followed by prayers.
- Everyone decorates their houses with rangoli and flower petals to mark the auspicious occasion.
- The Marathi community tie Gudi outside the house, which is the symbol or flag of Lord Brahma and worship it. Gudi symbolises prosperity, and people worship it hoping that the new year will bring prosperity, happiness, good fortune, and peace.
- As per mythology, Lord Brahma created the universe and Ugadi is regarded as the first day of the creation of the universe. So on this holy day of Gudi Padwa or Ugadi, people worship Lord Brahma.
- Another main custom of this festival is that the elder members offer money, clothes, and other gifts to the younger family member as a sign to spread happiness and joy. People also donate water to the needy.
Why is Gudi Padwa Celebrated?
The phrase ‘Gudi Padwa’ comes from two words: Gudi, which refers to the symbol of Lord Brahma, and Padwa refers to the first day of the moon phase. As per beliefs, people celebrate this day by hoisting Gudi at home to keep evil spirits away and bring luck and prosperity.
However, some believe that the Gudi Padwa festival marks the creation of this universe by Lord Brahma. The day is also celebrated as the harvest festival and marks the beginning of spring. This is one of the most important Hindu festivals in the country.
History and Background of Gudi Padwa
This festival is linked to many mythological references. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma recreated the world after a natural disaster which killed everyone and stopped time. As a result of Brahma’s effort, time was recreated, and he expanded the concept of days, weeks, months and years on this day. In South India, this event is known as Ugadi and is believed to be the first day of the universe’s creation.
As per another Hindu belief, Gudi Padwa festival celebration represents Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana. The celebration commemorates the glory of Lord Rama upon his return to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile.
However, Gudi has additional historical significance. As per our glorious history, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj defeated the Mughals and freed the state’s citizens from Mughal’s brutal rule. So, one of the main reasons people celebrate this auspicious day is to commemorate the victory of good over evil.
How to Make Gudi?
- Step 1: Take a medium length bamboo stick
- Step 2: Tie a yellow or green cloth with golden brocade border at the tip of the bamboo.
- Step 3: Tie the cloth with neem and mango leaves.
- Step 4: Finish by tying a garland with red flowers and sugar crystals.
- Step 5: Place a copper or silver pot inverted directly on top, over the cloth (make sure it is clean).
- Step 6: Place the Gudi on the right side of your front door, slightly tilted. Most people also set the Gudi near the window. The Gudi is then hoisted (it is said to be Lord Brahma’s flag) while the priest chants mantras.
Final Word
Gudi Padwa holiday is a popular Hindu celebration eagerly anticipated by most Hindus and celebrated with enthusiasm and joy. As per beliefs, on this day, good prevails over evil and during this time, people pray for the well-being of everyone.
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FAQs
People across the country celebrate Gudi Padwa with great pomp and show. Different states celebrate this spring festival. These states include Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and others. However, it is celebrated under different names in different states like Karnataka, Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, and many more.
As per Hindu calendar, the Hindu new year falls on Shukla paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik. This year the date is 22 March. People celebrate Gudi Padwa under several other names across other communities and ethnicities. As a result, its rituals and traditions will vary across the country’s width.
On Marathi new year, the people of Maharashtra wake up early, place Gudi flags on their doorstep, and perform pujas. Later in the day, they prepare traditional delicacies like puran poli, crispy sabudana vada, shrikhand, kaju modak, coconut laddoo, batata vada, and many more.
As per history, the legendary warrior of Maharashtra, Chhatrapati Shivaji, started celebrating Gudi Padwa after his victory over Mughals. After that, every Marathi welcomes the new year by celebrating Gudi Padwa. Men and women in traditional attire visit temples and offer prayers to start the year on a positive note.
Gudi Padwa is not celebrated in North India. However, they start 9 days of Chaitra Navratri Puja on this same day. They eat mishri with neem on the first day of Navratri. This festival is called ‘Ugadi’ in Telangana Andhra Pradesh, Poila Baisakh in West Bengal, and Yugadi in Karnataka.
Gudi Padwa is the traditional new year of Marathi and Konkani Hindus. The festival also commemorates the mythical creation of time and the universe by Hindu god Brahma.
