HAPPY PADWA(HAPPY NEW YEAR)

Happy Gudi Padwa,Happy Ugadi ,Happy Cheti Chand to all of you!!!

Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month, and is celebrated as New Year's Day by Maharashtrians.(western India).The word ‘padwa’ is derived from Pratipada, the first day of a lunar month or the first day after nomoon day (Amavasya).

In Maharashtra, the new year is celebrated as Gudhi Padwa.It's Ugadi in Andhra & Karnataka.(South India)and the Sindhi festival (North India)of Cheti Chand is celebrated same day.

In maharashtra on the festive day, courtyards in village houses will be swept clean and plastered with fresh cow-dung. Even in the city, people take the time out to do some spring-cleaning.

People prepare for the new year by cleaning and washing their houses and buying new clothes.Decorate their houses with colorful "rangoli" patterns.

People hang "gudi" on their windows or in front of door on this day .Cloth (zari saree)adorned with brocade (zari) is tied to the tip of a long bamboo over which gathi (a type of sweet), neem leaves, a twig of mango leaves and a garland of red or yellow flowers is tied. This is then hoisted by placing a silver or copper pot placed in the inverted position over it.The Gudi is raised next to the main entrance of the house.

Traditionally, bittersweet leaves of the neem tree are eaten on this day.The Maharashtrians make puran poli or any sweet dish.
Happy Gudi Padwa!!!!

Happy Ugadi !!!!

Happy Cheti Chand !!!!

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HOLI

HAPPY HOLI !!!

Happy Holi to all of you.

Today I want to share with you about Festival of Holi.I hope you would like it.
Holi is also called the festival of colours,is popular spring festival in India.The colorful festival of Holi is celebrated on Phalgun Purnima which comes in February end or early March. Holi festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of 'good' over 'bad'.Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as" holika dahan".Second day after holi is known as Dhulheti,Dhulandi or Dulwad(in Marathi).It is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other.Numerous legends & stories associated with Holi celebration.
The literal meaning of the word 'Holi' is 'burning'. There are various legends to explain the meaning of this word, most prominent of all is the legend associated with demon king Hiranyakashyap.

I heard this story from my mother in my childhood and I forward it to my kids.......:)

Hiranyakashipu is the king of demons, and he had been granted a boon by Brahma, which made it almost impossible for him to be killed. Hiranyakashyap wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship only him but to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu.So the demon king wanted to kill his son. He was poisoned but the poison turned to nectar in his mouth. He was ordered to be trampled by elephants yet remained unharmed. He was put in a room with hungry, poisonous snakes and survived. All of Hiranyakashipu's attempts to kill his son failed. Finally,Hiaranyakashyap commanded his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. Holika had a boon whereby she could enter fire without any damage on herself. However, she was not aware that the boon worked only when she enters the fire alone.A pyre was lit up and Holika sat on it, clutching Prahalad. As a result she paid a price for her sinister desires, while Prahlad was saved by the grace of the god for his extreme devotion.

Thus was the triumph of Prahlad, the representative of good spirits. And the defeat of Holika, the representative of evil. The festival, therefore, celebrates the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of devotion. Even today, people celebrate this occasion.

Huge bonfires are lit up every year on the eve of the full moon night of the Holi to burn the spirit of the evils.I am coming from western India (Maharashtra).So I want to share something from Maharashtra.

People of Maharashtra commonly know this festival of colours by the name of "Shimga".And play with colours is reserved for Rangpanchami,which comes five days after Phalgun Poornima.

"Puran Poli"(flat breads with a sweet lentil filling.) is the famous sweet dish, prepared on the occasion of Holi.And I made it yesterday...:)I remember shouting “Holi re holi purnachi poli” when the holi was set afire. This night event starts with the burning the fuel wood on the street squares and all people offer prayers while revolving around the fire and throws coconut into the fire. This is the start of celebration and continues till the time all people are tired but happy with the celebrations.
Happy Holi!!

I would like to hear different kind of festival,their history,and celebration in different countries from you.If you would like to share your festival,send me HERE.