GUDHI PADWA

        The first day of our Hindu calendar  is "Sauvatsar Pratipada," it is the first day of first month  known as "Chaitra".  On this auspicious day Gudhi, in other words banner is hoisted in front of all Hindu houses. Therefore this day is commonly known as "GUDHI PADWA" This day is among the three and half muhurtas, hence considered as most auspicious day in the year. Opening of new shops,  business,  projects  etc. take place on this day. At our home, anybody  does the job of Gudhi hoisting. In fact, to tell you the truth, practically,  hoisting is done by me alone, for several years without any break. I get up little early on this day, then I finish morning routines, take hot water bath, prepare Gudhi, and erect it by the  right side of front door as high as possible, without any ceremony, and publicity, except  breaking crackers withought forgetting.  Then next ritual is to worship God in altar, offer "Kadulimb churna" and some sweets and fruits, flowers etc.  Next, eat half teaspoon of "kadunimb churn" in one sip, not to know the tongue, its taste. No sooner this is over, we grab the breakfast plate, finish as fast as possible, and drink hot tea  as usual. During lunch, varieties of items are served along with a sweet dish.. In the evening, if there happens to be any invitation of a cultural  club or opening ceremony, it is sometimes attended. This is the way how we celebrate "Gudhi Padwa" now a days.. Of course, truly  I do not know how you celebrate, but I guess it may be same to same.

        Six decades back "Gudhi Padwa"  was celebrated with a great glory and pomp, in each and  every  house. One could read the joy on the face of all family members. Yes, true enough, I know it ,to quote  for certain. Those days were quite different. Visiting other's house was considered as conventional protocol, irrespective of any expectation. To-day it is treated as irresponsible and irreverent act.

         Earlier day, of "Gudhi Padwa", family priest called 'Purohit' was visiting the houses of his      concern, and narrating to the 'Yajman', the head of family, how to perform the rituals of the day. Actually, there was no need, of priest, to explain the rituals, every year, because, 'yajmans' of almost all the houses were thoroughly aware of it. I was, little bit surprised and puzzled, of priest's attitude, but there was a definite reason behind it, I do not want to point out it, but you can certainly find while reading further.

      On this day all the family members of our house were getting up early in the morning. Then, the house was neatly cleaned and washed, inside and outside. this cleaning was called 'sadasambharjan'. Every person was taking hot water bath early in the morning, before sunrise. In those days mornings were so cool, that every person could feel, and hot water bath was a pleasant feeling.. 'Torana' ,some sort of arc, was erected in the courtyard at the entrance of the house as well as as main entrance door of the house, decorated with mango leaves and 'Zendu" flowers, from the shrubs still existing in our garden. Once, these flowers are plucked, shrubs were pulled out, from earth and throne away, or burnt. On the same day that area was cleaned up and kept ready for plantation in rainy season due in two months from then. I suppose this day was an auspicious day for this purpose, according to people of that time. After taking bath, the ladies and the girls, in general, were drawing 'rangoli' ( artistic drawings of colours) in front of he house, as well as inside. of the house. However, at our place, 'rangoli' work was performed by our grand father alone. He was known as an expert in than art. A large 'rangoli' was drawn in courtyard in front of main door and two 'rangolis' little smaller, either side of it. During all the festivals in the year, only this 'rangoli' was filled with colours, which ranged from seven to nine, if I am not mistaken. Nevertheless, our grandpa was purchasing three to four colours. and was managing his need of other colours from the neighbourers. When any additional colour, was needed, he was writing the name and quantity of the colour, on a piece of paper and was deputing me to a certain person in the neighbourhood. They were much pleased to help. If any colour found short with then, they were acquiring, from somebody. What a great example of generosity? But I disliked this attitude of grandpa. Whatsoever, now I realise, that, whatever they were doing was proper, in those days. First of all they had to go in city to buy the colors, which was not so easy as to-day. Secondly, even in cities all the required colours were rarely available in one place. Buying all the colours and using a little, once in a year was the waste of money. Instead, buying some few colours, by five to six persons, of different shades, sufficient for three to four years, was a wise unanimous decision. Moreover give and take, was establishing better relations among them, that was a plus point of developing good relationship among themselves.

      After, finishing this job grandpa was preparing the 'Gudhi'. By the time we were wearing newly stitched dress for the occasion. For 'Gudhi' he was using long green bamboo stick specially brought for the purpose. It was decorated with glittering and coloured papers and flowers. At the top end he was placing red coloured, silk cloth having broad golden border. It was tied with mango leaves and flowers, and above it shining copper pot was placed. Then this 'Gudhi' was place in the coutryard to the right hand side of the main door. Next, he was performing puja. He was keeping all the idols of gods, in water, filled in 'gangal' . A gangal was a copper pot similar to bucket but having quite atractive shape. Then he was cleaning the altar. He was knowing puja by heart. So by reciting Shree Sukta, Purush Sukta, Atharwashirsha eic. he was performing Abisheka on all gods, and was keeping them back in altar duly wiped with special cloth called 'manjarpaat' meant for the purpose. The 'Churn' of 'Kadunimb' leaves grinded with sugar, salt, asafoetida, pepper. etc. and coconut kernel mixed with jaggery, called 'panchkhadya' and bananas were offered to gods as 'Neivedya'. He was concluding puja with prayers. Thereupon, some rice and coconut was taken in a plate along with two bettle leaves, areca and an "anna' coin. This was called "Ganeshpuja'. He was keeping it at the 'Gudhi' in the courtyard and was performing puja of both. On garlanding 'Gudhi' he was uttering loudly 'Jai shree Ram' simultaneously raising the 'Gudhi' high up, and then it was tied to the pillar at right hand side. of the door. 'Gudhi' hoisting programme was ending by repeating again 'Jai Shree Ram' three times by all of us.

     Grandpa then used to seat in front of altar to read the "varshfala' from 'panchang' that is almanac. Persons in house were listining while doing their work. At this time we children, remained busy breaking crackers in the courtyard. Once, reading was over we were eating 'Kaduninb' churn. For breakfast only sweet rice flakes were served, that was an old practice of our family.

       Whether 'Gudhi Padwa' or 'Divali' I was not finding any difference.Getting up early morning, taking hot water bath, dressing new clothes, morning puja, eating sweet flakes, breaking crackers etc were same except raising gudhi at sunrise on 'Gudhi Padwa' and raising aakashkandil at sunset during 'Divali'. 

      At about eleven o'clock people were gathering in the temple, especially gents and children, almost all with a new dress, to hear the "varshafala', forecast of happening during the year. It was read by the Puranic of the temple,  from almanac. After aarti and prasad people were returning home discussing on the subject. There happened to be a special menu for lunch, in all the houses on this auspicious day and a special sweets 'puran poli'. However, at our place every year only 'sukrunde' were prepared, the reason was not known to to me. Sukrunde is a sweet item looking similar to batatwada, In it, mixture of cooked chana daal, jagery, cardmom, coconut kernel, caju pieces, dry grapes etc. were added.. This sweet was served hot, during lunch.. Basically, being a very sweet peace, it was eaten by pouring local ghee of cow milk and adding sugar. One can say it was tasting sweeter than 'amrut'. Only after eating stomachfull, we were allowed to finish lunch. Even for us nap was necessary like elderly person, after eating such stuff.

           In the evening, we the schoolmates, were joining together and covering most of the village houses to see the 'Gudhis' and its decorations. At some few houses, we could see silver pot on the 'Gudhi'. That means,  it was a rich man's house. By sunset we were back at home. Thus the great day of "Gudhi Padwa' was celebrated in this fashion, by us and almost all the people.

            To-day we spend all the time seeing the TV serials. We have no time to do such rituals. Truth is that, in those days it was possible for them to do whatever they like, but now even we wish to do something new, time does not permit, and that's the plain truth.