Gudi Padwa Trivia 1. A number of stories are
associated with the festival, prominent among them being the theory
of creation and also the day when Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after
defeating King Ravana in Lanka.
The year begins on the first
day of Chaitra of the Hindu calendar named as Shalivahan.
It is named so after King
Shalivahan from Paithan in Maharashtra.
2. Gudi Padwa is symbolic of
love and devotion between the wife and husband. On this day newly
married daughters with their husbands are invited for special meals
and resents.
3. Unlike other festivals,
Gudi Padwa, is a very family-oriented affair, but one can also take
part in the yatra organised the previous day, where families bring
diyas and float them on the lake.The whole lake is lit up with
floating diyas which looks really beautiful.
4. The word padwa is derived
from the Sanskrit word pradurbhu that is the first day of the year.
The festival signifies the beginning of the summer season. During
this period night and day are equally divided into 12 hours. There
are a lot of historical myths surrounding this festival, it seems
Emperor Shalivahaan of the south defeated a king from the north for
the first time. The gudi' also symbolises the victory of Lord Rama
over Ravana marking the triumph of good over evil.