It is believed that on 'Gudi Padva’:
-
The Universe was created by Brahma.
-
Satyuga (The Age of Truth and Justice) began.
-
Shri Ram returned to Ayodhya victorious, after having killed Ravana.
-
This is one of the three and a half days in the Hindu Lunar
calendar, whose every moment is considered auspicious. -
The festival is celebrated as Ugadi in Karnataka. Seven, Nine or
eleven haystacks are placed on a farmland and are set alight. The ashes
are mixed while ploughing the farm.
The Vedas proclaimed that the year should consist of 12 months and the
world has accepted it.
The ‘Gudi’ consists of a wooden stick and a steel inverted copper
or silver ‘loti’ (jug) which symbolizes a flag post.
This flag-post in turn symbolizes the Victory of Shree Ram over the
Demon King Ravana as a mark of triumph of good over evil. The Gudi also
symbolizes Shree Ram’s triumphant entry into Ayodhya.
The flag post also has a Spiritual significance. The inverted empty
‘loti’ symbolizes the ‘empty’ ego. The ‘inverted’ loti,
could mean an indication to look within (ourselves).
The open sky stands for ‘Ones true free spirit’ away from the
confines of the world.
A bitter-sweet mixture of neem leaves, jaggery and jeera is consumed
early in the morning.
The ladies dress in their traditional finery, purchase golden items,
adorn their homes with orange flowers and jubilantly usher in peace and
harmony on this day, their New Year’s.