Happy Gudi Padwa! (Marathi New Year)

Happy Marathi New Year! source

Today is Gudi Padwa, and it marks the beginning of the New Year in the Hindu calendar. It also marks the beginning of a new agricultural harvest season. It is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month, which is the first month in the lunar Hindu Calendar.

Etymology

The word Pāḍavā (Padwa) is derived from the Sanskrit word Pratipada for first day of a lunar month. A Guḍhī (Gudi) is raised on this occasion giving this festival its name.

The Joy of India: From The Archives

Lately I have been writing quite negatively about India with all my latest culture shock posts. My intention is to run an honest blog, so I’m not going to be writing about how awesome and easy life is as an expat if it is not true, and I am not just going to write about the positive things that happen. I will write about both the good and the bad, and so far it has been more of a struggling adventure than an exciting adventure. So to lift up the mood, I decided to share some of my photos from our mostly happy trip to India last January before we moved here, and show you the joy and the great people and culture of this country.

Behind The Scenes: Statues for Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu Festival)

In the last few days I have been driving by some tents with people making statues of Ganesh (The elephant Hindu God). Then I learned that Ganesh Chaturthi, a big Hindu Festival, is coming soon.

During Ganesh Chaturthi, the birth of Lord Ganesha (the son of Shiva and Parvati), is celebrated. This festival lasts 10 days, and begins on the fourth day of the waxing moon period, during the Hindu month: Bhaadra. These dates usually fall between August 19th and September 20th. This year, it begins on September 9th.

A Food Gift From A Quirky Indian Festival

Today, our cook wasn’t supposed to come, but she arrived with her son around 4pm with a bag and a dabba, which is an Indian-style tiffin carrier, with several layered containers that come apart, each filled with different cooked foods.