mediology
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Ever imagined how diverse Indian Culture is? Today is the day of celebration all across the country, where it is the day of Ugadi in southern part of the country, and Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, where Chaitra Navratri is observed in the northern part of the country.
All the various occasions celebrated in the different corners of the country to in order to welcome the Hindu New Year. Lets have a look at different ways Indian culture has in order to celebrate the coming of New Year:
- Ugadi:
Is celebrated in order to celebrate the joy of New Year, the festival is majorly celebrated in the southern part of the country, the day symbolizes that people should welcome the goodness of life and celebrate all flavors in the New Year other than that the festival also celebrates spring, which reliefs people from the harshness of winter weather.
People buy new clothes and decorate their homes with mango leaves and flowers. People use a mixture of water and cow dung and use it to sprinkle on the areas around their homes. They worship the Gods and welcome the New Year. In southern states, devotees start the day with an oil bath.
- Gudi Padwa :
Gudi Padwa the word itself means 1st day of new year. Gudi Padwa or the Marathi New Year gets its name from two words – ‘gudi’, which means a flag or emblem of Hindu Lord Brahma and ‘padwa’ means the first day of the phase of the moon and the festival marks the beginning of the harvest season and is celebrated with much enthusiasm across the state.
The Gudi which is the main element for celebrating the day, is tied on the fresh cloth around a bamboo stick of about 5 feet long. Neem leaves and garland made of sugar candy are placed atop it. The stick is placed on a silver or bronze pot, which symbolizes the victory.
People wake up early in the morning and decorate their home with beautiful Rangoli and then the Gudi is worshipped to mark new year and they prepare delicacies like Puran Poli and Shrikhand to be enjoyed with family and friends. It is also customary to eat tender leaves of Neem and Mishri on the very first day of the Hindu new Year.
- Chaitra Navratri :
Where Ugadi and Gudi Padwa are being celebrated in the Souther part Chaitra Navratri is being celebrated in the Norther part of the country to celebrate the 1st day of Hindu New year.
Chaitra Navratri is the 9 days dedicated to the worship of the nine Avtaars of Maa Durga – Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri. Last the day after the completion of Navratri Ram Navami is celebrated.
During these nine-days of celebrations, devotees avoid drinking alcohol, eating non-veg and consuming onion and garlic. Many people also perform rituals and pujas as per Hindu traditions. Additionally, temples and religious places are decorated during the auspicious occasion of Chaitra Navratri for devotees to come and offer their prayers.
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