Gudi Padwa / Ugadi / Cheti Chand

The Story

(1) Brahma created the universe on this day; (2) Matsya saved Manu and the Vedas; (3) Rama returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana; (4) Shalivahana defeated the Shakas (start of Shalivahana Shaka era). New year for many regions.

Vidhi · How It's Done

• Pre-dawn bath, oil-massage
• Hoist gudi (decorated bamboo with cloth, neem, mango leaves, sweets, copper pot inverted) outside home (Maharashtra)
• Rangoli at entrance
• Family prayer, recite Panchanga shravan (hearing of yearly almanac predictions)
• Bhog: puran poli, shrikhand-puri, traditional sweets
• Eat 6-rasa preparation symbolising life's flavours (Ugadi pachadi: tamarind, jaggery, neem flowers, raw mango, salt, chili — sour, sweet, bitter, tangy, salty, hot)

Key Mantras

• ॐ ब्रह्मणे नमः
• ॐ श्री रामाय नमः

Bhog · Festival Foods

Puran poli · Shrikhand-puri · Ugadi pachadi (6-rasa) · Bobbatlu · Coconut barfi

Regional Variants

• · Maharashtra: Gudi Padwa with the gudi flag
• · Andhra/Telangana: Ugadi with Ugadi pachadi
• · Karnataka: Yugadi with Bevu Bella (neem-jaggery)
• · Tamil Nadu: Cheti Chand for Sindhis; Tamil New Year celebrated separately on Vaishakhi 1st (April 14)
• · Kashmir: Navreh