Gudi Padwa 2023 Date, Rituals & Significance
The Maharashtrian New Year, or Gudi Padwa, will be celebrated in 2023. This day is the beginning of spring in the southern Indian states, hence they commemorate it as the harvest festival.
Distinct regions of India give the holiday different names and observe it with unique customs and traditions. On this day, beginning at daybreak and continuing throughout the day, people participate in a number of ceremonies.
Gudi Padwa 2023 Date
Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Harvesting the rabi crops on the first day of Chaitra marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year, which is celebrated as Gudi Padwa. Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is another well-known name for this day.
Rituals of Gudi Padwa
- Devotees begin the Gudi Padwa rite before sunrise, when they get up and bathe in oil as part of a holy ceremony.
- Following a thorough cleaning, the women adorn the residences’ entryways and exteriors with mango leaves and colourful blooms.
- Traditionally, cow dung was used as a building material in rural areas.
- Devotees pray to Lord Brahma and celebrate his birthday by raising the Gudi flag on Gudi Padwa.
- As a result, worshippers believe that by raising the Gudi, they can call upon the protection of Lord Vishnu.
- Gudi is produced by tying a bamboo pole with neem leaves, yellow or red fabric, mango leaves, and red flower garlands.
- Typically, a silver or copper pot is turned upside down and placed on top. As a part of their rituals for gaining heavenly favour, many people also create stunning Gudi Padwa Rangoli designs around the deity.
- Later, believers will worship Vishnu in the hopes of receiving his protection and wealth.
Gudi Padwa Significance
- Many Hindus observe Gudi Padwa as a day to honour Lord Brahma, the deity seen as the ultimate creator of the cosmos. It is said that on the day of Gudi Padwa he created the universe, according to the scriptures and folklore.
- Festivities on this day are particularly magnificent and well-attended in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is widely held that this celebration drives away all bad fortune and brings in an abundance of luck and riches.
- The event is known as the Ugadi festival in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It’s also the first day of the nine-day festival of Chaitra Navratri.
- Out of the three Sadhe Teen Muhurats—Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, Vaishakha Shukla Pratipada, and Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the half Muhurat—Gudi Padwa is regarded as one of the most auspicious.
