GUDI PADWA-UGADI-HAPPY NEW YEAR!

TIME FOR NEW BEGINNINGS........

13th,March,2010
Saturday

Dear Friends,
Good Morning!
It is a beautiful and pleasant morning;no need to get up early andrush to office.Look at the watch and speeding up and running and panting to leave home early in the morning.Two days holidays make a lot of difference!And one more on Tuesday-16th,March on account of The New Year-Gudi Padwa.In India,celebrations and festivals were often linked to the turn of the season and to the sowing and reaping of crops.This is a time of the year when the Sun's rays increase in intensity,going from mellow to hot.

Swagat nav varshache,
Asha aakankashache.
Sukh samruddhiche,
Padata dwari paaul gudhiche.

HAPPY GUDI PADWA to one and all.

According to Brahma Purana,this is the day on which Brahma created the world after the deluge and time began to tick from this day forth.
Gudi Padwa marks the New Year of Hindus.According to the Hindu calendar,Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra month and is celebrated by Maharashtrians and Hindu Konkanis.Konkanis use the term,Sanvsar Padvo[sanvasar derived from samvatsar meaning, year].In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka,this festival is known as Ugadi.The Sindhi festival of Cheti Chand is celebarted on same day.
According to Hindus,this is the most auspicious day to start a new activity.Many begin with their business.According to Hindu astrology any work starts during auspicious muhurts like Gudi Padwa is expected to bring success.
Generally,Gudi is raised next to the main entrance of the house or in the verandha.The spots elected should be on the right side[when sighted from the house] of the entrance.The right side symbolises active state of the soul and has various explanations.
One of them mentions gudi as Brahma's flag[Brahmadhvaj] .Since Lord Brahma created the universe on this day,this flag is called'the flag of Brahma' in the scriptures.Some also refer to it as 'the flag of Indra'[Indradhvaj]. Lord Vishnu is said to have incarnated as Matsya,the fish on this day.Another mythological explanation is gudi as a symbolic representation of Sree Rama's victory and happienss on returning to Ayodhya after slaying Ravan.Since a symbol of victory is always held high,so is the gudi[flag].Maharashtriyans see the gudi as the symbol of victory associated with the conquests of the Maratha forces led by teh Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.It is also symbol of victory of Shalivahana over Shakas,which people hoisted when he returned when he returned to Paithan.Gudi is also displayed as it is expected to ward off evil and invite prosperity and good luck into the house.
In modern areas,we will even notice that it is raised in balconies.Gudi is a symbol of victory.To celebrate God's victory,a Gudi [pole] is hoisted.The word 'padwa' is derived from Pratipada,the first day of lunar month or the first day after new moon day.Padwa is a sanskrit word which means 'crops'.
Wishing you a bright and prosperous NEW YEAR-GUDI PADWA-UGADI,
It's Anu signing off............................
On this auspicious day,Hindus extend warm greetings through mails,sms,cards etc.Everyone enjoys a lot.
Courtyards in village houses will be swept clean and plastered with fresh cow-dung.beautiful rangoli will be put by girls and ladies.The vibrant colours welcome the guests.Wearing new attires and making merry,people enjoy family get together.The place of Gudi is cleaned and then a Swastik rangoli is drawn on the ground.Turmeric and vermilion[haldi-kumkum] is offered at the centre.
Later the prayer is chanted,
''O Lord Brahma,Lord Vishnu!Please enable me to absorb the elements of creation,fire and Sun present in the atmosphere.Let the divine consciousness present in these elements be preserved constantly.Let the energy thus received,be used for my spiritual practice''.
Gudi is a bright green or yellow cloth adorned with zari tied to the tip of a long bamboo over which neem leaves,mango leaves and a garland of red flowers is tied.A silver or copper pot is placed in the inverted position over it.
Traditionally,families are supposed to begin the festivities by eating the bittersweet leaves of the neem tree.Sometimes, a paste of neem leaves is prepared and mixed with ajwain,gul/gur[known as jaggery in English] and tamarind.All the members of the family consume this paste which is believed to purify the blood and strengthen the body's immune system against diseases.Specialities like soonth panak and chana usually are eaten on this day.
The fragrance of ripening mangoes,jackfruit and other seasonal fruits,the enchanting smell of jasmine flowers fills the air with sweet smell and fill our minds with happiness and cheer.
Wishing all of you a bright and prosperous NEW YEAR,
It's Anu signing off..........
I wrote this post early,giving you more than enough time to plan a new venture,a new beginning, a new connection anything that gives you happiness and peace of mind!:)[really thoughtful,naah?]
Celebrate the prosperity!Nature is so kind to us!Let's honour and respect the real spirits and wonderful gifts from God!
Wishing you a wonderful and lovely Sunday,
Reminding Anu loves you dil se.
Sasneham,
Anu