Gudi Padwa 2021 Festival, Goa

Gudi Padwa or Samvatsar Padvo or Gudhi Padva is a famous South Indian festival. It is the Hindu New Year Day. So, this is the first day of Chaitra month which is the first month of Hindu New Year. This festival is usually celebrated every year in the month of March or April. Gudi Padwa is the day when Brahma recreated the world after massive destruction. On this very day, people clean their house and hung Gudhi outside and wear new clothes. Women make rangoli on their house main entrance. People eat bittersweets made up of neem tree leaves. People of Goa and Maharashtra cook a variety of vegetarian cuisines at their home including Kheer, Sanna, Poori, coconut milk, Sweets, Puran polis, Shrikhand, and sweet potato and distribute among friends and relatives.

Gudi Padwa celebration in Goa

Gudi Padwa is mainly celebrated by Goan, but the real celebration that includes folk dancers performance take place in Gaondongri, Sanguem, and Sattari. This festival is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra month on the Hindu Lunisolar calendar.

Gudi Padwa is believed to the best time to begin any new venture, whether it is business, marriage or house construction; it is good to begin on this day. This festival is famous with the name Samvatsar Padvo in Goa. In some parts of Goa, Gudi Padwa day often comes just after Shigmo festival.

In comparison to other main festivals of India like Diwali, Holi, Shigmo, Gudi Padwa is a low key festival. Warlike folk dances including Ranamale are Veerabhadra which are important dance forms of India, are the main attraction of this festival.

In numerous places of Goa, the New Year is celebrated with cultural dance performances on the just before the Gudi Padwa day. Besides the performance of Virbhadra, a folk dance called Ghodemodni is performed in Nanoda, Bicholim.

Gudi Padwa is actually a harvest festival that celebrates the Rabi crops harvesting. People express their gratitude to God for the blessing of having a good yield by celebrating this festival.

The Gudhi

The Gudhi is a special decoration item used on this occasion. A bright saffron or yellow cloth embellished with gold zari is tied to one end of a long bamboo stick. The Gudhi is usually surrounded by neem leaves, sugar crystals, and mango leaves, with a garland of red and green flowers. The tip where cloth and other things are fixed is then covered by an inverted copper urn.

This embellished Gudhi is then placed outside of the house especially on the right side of the main entrance. This Gudhi is actually a symbol of the victory of King Shalivahana over Sakas and was raised by his people when he came back to Paithan.

This day is also celebrated as the day of creation of the universe by Lord Brahma and gudhi also represents the flag of Indra or Indradhvaj.

Traditionally, the Gudhi symbolizes the victory of Lord Rama and Gudi padwa is celebrated on the day he returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. Since victory symbol is always held high, so the Gudhi is always placed at a higher place of the house. Witness the traditional celebration of Gudi Padwa by visiting Goa in Chaita month!

Information:-

2025 Festival Date: Sunday, 30 March

2024 Festival Date: Tuesday, 9 April

2023 Festival Date: Wednesday, 22 March

2022 Festival Date: Saturday, 2 April

2021 Festival Date: Tuesday, 13 April

2020 Festival Date: Wednesday, 25 March

2019 Festival Date: Saturday, 6 April

2018 Festival Date: Sunday, 18 March

2017 Festival Date: Tuesday, 28 March

Type : New Year's Day (According Hindu Calendar)

Frequency: Annual