Gudi Padwa is a very important festival in Hinduism. It will be celebrated on Wednesday, 25 March 2020. In the word Gudi Padwa, Gudi means Vijay Pataka (victory flag) and Padwa is called Pratipada (first day). In the first of all Yugs, Satyuga started from this date. It is said that on the day of Ugadi or Gudi Padwa, i.e. on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada of Brahma, Lord Brahma started the work of creating universe. Lord Brahma Ji created the world on the day of Pratipada year, and that is why this day is celebrated as Nav Samvatsar i.e. New Year. This is the reason that it is also called the first day of creation. Ugadi or Gudi Padwa festival is celebrated on the Shukla Pratipada of Chaitra month.

Legends about Gudi Padwa

There are many Legends related to Ugadi or Gudi Padwa festival which are found in Hinduism. One of these stories is that on this day Lord Sri Rama conquered Bali and liberated the people from its tyranny and misrule. In this happiness, the victory flag of Gudi i.e. in every house is hoisted. Even today this tradition is practiced in Maharashtra and some other places, where Gudi is hoisted in every house on the day of Ugadi or Gudi Padwa. The kingdom of Lord Rama and King Yudhishtara was abolished on the same day. On the day of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, Emperor Vikramaditya protected the people of foreign aggressors and on this day, the time reckoning started.

According to mythology, Shakti was appeared on the first day of Chaitra Navratri. Apart from all this, the great mathematician - Bhaskaracharya calculated the day, month and year from sunrise to sunset from day one and composed the calendar.

It is also called the first day of the Hindu calendar. Ugadi or Gudi Padwa festival is considered to be the beginning of the Hindu New Year, so all people of Hindu religion celebrate it in different ways. Generally on this day, Gudi is worshiped in Hindu families on the door of the house and it is decorated with garland-like decorative made of mango leaves at the doors of the house.

It is believed that it brings happiness, prosperity and happiness to the house. Hindu families have a tradition of making a sweet dish called Puranpoli on the day of Ugadi or Gudi Padwa, which is eaten with ghee and sugar. Shrikhand is specially prepared on this day in Marathi families, and is served with other dishes and puris. On this day in Andhra Pradesh Pachadi is made and distributed in each house. There is also a tradition of eating Neem leaves (azadirachta indica) on the day of Ugadi or Gudi Padwa. On this day, waking up early in the morning, eating Neem leaves and eating jaggery. It is considered a symbol of turning bitterness into sweetness.