India a well-known country of cultural and traditional festivals. It’s a country with diverse religious and cultural backgrounds which tends to celebrate festivals for historical mythology, seasonal changes and some for cleaning and decorating house to keep the environment clean.

GUDI PADWA our traditional new year is celebrated in and near Maharashtra state (India) from where I belong. In Marathi “Gudhi Padava” (गुढी पाडवा) is a springtime festival that marks traditional new year for ‘Marathi and Konkani Hindus’. It is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month to mark the beginning of the new year according to the Lunisolar. 

Some significance to celebrate this auspicious day:-

• It is believed that this day is linked to the mythical day on which Hindu god Brahma created time and universe.
• Historically, it symbolizes Lord Rama’s victory and happiness on returning to Ayodhya. It is celebrated to commemorate the coronation of Lord Ram post his return to Ayodhya after completing 14years of exile.
• Gudhi also symbolizes the victory of king shalivahana and was hoisted by his people when he returned to paithan.
• Gudhi is believed to ward off evil and invite prosperity and good luck into the house.

The word padava comes from Sanskrit word pratipada(प्रतिपदा) which refers to the first day of a lunar fortnight. This festival is observed with colorful Rangoli at the doorstep, a gudhi flag i.e. bright colorful silk/zari cloth or saree is tied to the top of a long bamboo.   garland of flowers, mango/neem leaves, gathi (sugary sweet) is tied to it and is capped with an upturned silver or copper pot(kalash), signifying victory. This gudhi is hoisted outside the house or window which is visible to all.

GUDHI

 

 

RANGOLI

Authentic Maharashtrian Food 

On this day traditional food is prepared such as puri combined with shrikand/amras or Puran Poli.

I had prepared Puri, potato and green peas mix vegetable, amras (mango pulp), masale bhat along with raita (cucumber & carrot), sider is raw mango pickle & papad (papadum).  

• Puri and Amras – a lovely combo of deep-fried wheat Indian bread with sweet mango ras. Tasty and filler. most people don’t like sweet much so this is served along with vegetable i.e potato or green peas & potato sabji.
• Masale Bhat an authentic and traditional Maharashtrian dish. Rice pressure cooked in spices and veggies. This dish contains garam masala so it’s usually served with raita (curd mixed with cucumber or carrot), you can also serve plain curd. 
• Deep fried papad (papadum) and raw mango pickle served as sider. 

I will share the recipe soon. 

Traditionally, we also prepare a recipe of bitter leaves (neem tree) mixed with gul (sweet jaggery) in a very small quantity. It is eaten to remind in life we will get sweet and bitter experiences as well as its a belief that the neem-based mixture has health benefits. 

Each and every festival is unique in its own way, to follow traditions or to not depend on person to person but the ultimate aim of every festival does not matter any religion is to be happy, share happiness, eat nice and healthy food, enjoy and live in harmony. 

Disclaimer: The content of this blog is solely my views of a place and food. This is not to offend any class, religion, ethnicity or nation. My views can change from time to time based on my latest experience. I am an independent owner of this site and the views expressed in this are my own. All photographs are owned by me.

Till Then,

Stay Happy & Blessed