Gudipadwa & Ramnavratri

New Year begins with Gudipadwa . Its Chaitra shukla pratipada . I woke up early,took bath and dashed out towards the Lord Hanuman Temple down the Hill. I saw the rising Sun . The crimson and soothing. Chanted the Gayetri Mantra. Men and women flocked the temple. With renewed fervor prayed to the Almighty.

Every day, i make it a point to take my lords darshan and then climb up the hill. We reside on the hill top area. Its peaceful and less crowded . With the padwa, beings the Ramnavratri too. On the ninth day of chaitra Shukla navmi ,Lord Ram was born. We read Ramayan all these nine days and celebrate the ninth day with gusto.

I have invited few family friends to relish prasad . The nine days of chanting lords name ,lighting akhand jyot(lamp) reciting shloks Ramraksha etc. and path . The imbibing the religious thoughts from the epic Ramayan . Remembering the sages Valmiki and Tulsidas. Valmiki , was the first poet to tell the story of Shri Rama,in his 'Ramayana'. Later, Tulsidas composed Rama-charita-manas. He was a great vedic scholar philosoper. Devotee Hanuman helped him to attain darshan of Prabhu Shri Ram . Tulsidas declared: 'Bhakti is the only way leading to God's Grace.' People in North India recite his verses,which are sweet couplets in beautiful rhyme. These sanskars we got from our parents are very nicely nurtured.

Its the beginning of the Chaitra month , the ladies celebrate haldi kumkum and distribute sweets and prepare snacks from newly harvested gram pulse, the new season of raw mangoes (kairi) is in abundance in the market. Preparing sharbat from the raw mangoes (sharbat/ called panha) is savoured in homes by all young and old. It acts as cooling agent .

Its the advent of summers. The Neem tree is blooming . Its fragrance beats the costliest scent in the world. I walk the path, both the pathways are surrounded with houses . The blooming colorful bougainvilleas catches my eye. The much awaited mogra unveils its grandeur. The perfect time the Lord is born. Lord Vishnu is worshipped in his human incarnation as Rama, the divine ruler of Ayodhya.....

Its the ninth day(Navmi) i hurriedly come home from my morning walk . Prepare breakfast and cook prasad . Then gods(images) are beautifully garlanded and sprayed with gulabjal. The whole atmosphere is charged. I and my family & my neighbour sing praise for our beloved Lord Rama. We sing and blow conch after the arti.

I distribute prasads to everyone. In the afternoon the delicious meals is served to the invited guests. 'Atithi dev bhava.' Then the family members maids and servants too eat .

In the evening ours friends and relatives too visit each other. The doors are opened to all. We do not have to take appointment to meet on such occasion. Huge chariot processions(Rathyatra) of Shri Ram Sita Laxman Bharat and devotee Hanuman are taken out.. Scenes depicting from Ramayan are skilfully decorated. People get mesmerised and transferred to the epic age. Its a good message for starting and wishing each other on the beginning of our New Year.

Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year!