Gudhi Padhva

Every year, New Years is celebrated in the "new" western world on the 1st of january. But there are quite a "few old" civilizations around the world that follow their own "traditional" calendar and celebrate New Years accordingly.
India is one such country, where people from different communities celebrate the New Years on the 1st of January. But in accordance with the hindu calendar, they celebrate their own New Years day. for eg: punjabis have the Baisakhi, the keralites have Vishu and the Maharashtrians have Gudhi Padhva.
The marathi calendar has 12 months. The first one being Chaitra. The first day of this month is traditionally the New Year.
In old days, when people didnot have Kalanirnay, way before the printing press, even before the marathi calendar was determined, they relied on the sun, the moon and the changing seasons to determine the days in that particular region. with regular observation of the skies came the knowledge that seasons follow one after the other, the sun rises and sets in opposite directions, the tides, the lunar cylce of waxing and waning moon, the eclipses etc. affirmation of the cycle lead to the making of the first calendar.
Gudhi Padhva is celebrated to welcome the spring, after long and dreary winter.it is also the time to determine when the farmers can start farming. maharashtrians celebrate Gudhi Padhva with great joy. People clean their houses (spring cleaning anyone???)., draw rangolis in front of the entrance door, adorn the doorway with a garland of raw rice, mango leaves and marigold. these three signify the onset of spring and nature's bounty.
Gudi Padhva is one of the auspicious 3 1/2 muhurat which is favorable for ceremonies ranging from satyanarayan puja to weddings, naming ceremonies( barse) etc. Some consider it auspicious to buy gold on this day. traditional sweets are prepared and enjoyed by everyone.
I remember, back in India my dad used to hang marigold garlands outside the door. We had to clean the house, my mom used to make shrikhand for lunch . So the special lunch would consist of puri batata-or cauliflower bhaji, varan bhaat, salad, and mango shrikhand.
We never had Gudhi tied outside our house, but many other friends used to have it. The gudhi consists of an upturned silver or copper pot on a bamboo stick, a string of garland around it and some sweets tied around it. a brightly colored cloth is tied around it. this gudhi is tied to symbolize Lord Brahma's flag. it is also used to symbolize the victory. (i dont recall the name of the king).
Here in Chicago, i just made some vermicelli kheer...wore new dress pants to office:) bought a new lipstick (that substitues for gold:) and wished everyone a very happy new year. My husband talked about how much he missed chitaleche mango shrikhanda:) i promised him i would try to make some at home. My mom-inlaw makes the best shrikhand. I get really greedy when i eat it:)
So, sarvanna gudhi padhvachya hardik shubhecha
P.S.: i saw this year that the Gudhi Padhva and the American "first day" of spring were just a day apart on the english calendar. Gudhi Padhva was on the 19th march, first day of spring in USA: 20th March...

The Legend of Holi

Last weekend was Holi and Rangapanchami. In India, this festival is celebrated all over with great happines.it is said that "holi" is so called after "Holika" the demoness sister of the demon king Hiranyakashap. he had a son called Prahlad who was a vishnu devotee. This devotion of Prahlad to Lord Vishnu used to anger Hiranyakashap a lot. Once,he made his sister Holika sit with prahlad on her lap and lit a fire around her. Holika was previously given a boon by Lord Brahma that no fire could cause her any harm if she wore a shawl presented to her by him. But just as she was holding prahlad on her lap, Vishnu created a gust of wind which blew away the shawl and thus consumed her but spared Prahlad.thus began the legend, lore, myth, story, tradition of Holi. and of course of Puran Polis.
Rangapanchami is more of colorful celebration. this is when Lord Krishna and his friends played with colors with the gopikas. i think it is to welcome the arrival of spring by colors after a long cold dreary winter. today gulal etc is used for that. water filled balloons and pichkaris are traditionally used to play.
here is chicago, Holi/rangapanchami is celebrated in the temple.
But back in India it is more fun. Fun to hang with your friends on Rangapanchami and douse everyone with color and water. :)
i miss it:)