Marathi New Year celebrates season change

LUCKNOW: Beginning of the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar, beginning this year on March 21, is marked by celebrations of different regional communities settled in the city, but what makes Gudi Padwa, the Marathi New Year special is their conscious effort to perform all rituals as per tradition and with utmost care.
The day begins with an auspicious bath and ladies of the house decorate the main entrance of the house with a toran (frill) and rangoli (floor art).They drape themselves in bright zari border saris while the men clad in white kurta pajama/dhoti and their heads covered with a traditional Gandhi topi hoist the ‘Gudi’ which is a new kalash (urn) wrapped in a saffron cloth and placed on a bamboo stick, to perform the most important ritual for the day.
“The gudi is a sign of prosperity and well-being and is placed right outside the house early morning and is placed so it is visible to any passerby,” said Dr Ranjana Vaishampayan, adding, “Staying in a different state, it becomes all more important to maintain our traditions so that our children learn the basics of the rituals performed on important occasions and festivals.”
Elaborating on the food on the new year day, Maharashtra Samaj, Lucknow secretary Anjali Abhyankar said, “Along with traditional delicacies like puranpoli stuffed with a mixture of chickpeas and jaggery and shrikhand made of yogurt, the other most important traditional food of Gudi Padwa is a special mixture of neem and jaggery, which builds immunity to cope with change of weather conditions. To begin the new year on a healthy note this food is the first thing consumed on the morning of Gudi Padwa. Neem purifies blood and protects against many diseases,” she added.
Hemangi Deshmankar, housewife—To celebrate the advent of spring, Marathis add guava to Shrikhand, besides other fresh seasonal fruits like melons and jack-fruits which are added to the daily meals.
Priya Padhye, housewife—Everyone dresses up aptly for the occasion while the newly-weds wear a special Maharashtrian nath (nose-ring), while young girls up to 10 years of age are made to wear Parkar-Polka, a form of ghaghra-choli.