SSC
During the Gudi Padwa festival, the 'Gudi' hoisted outside homes is regarded as a:
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Answer: Option B — Symbol of victory and prosperity
Detailed Solution
Gudi Padwa is the New Year festival of Maharashtra and of the Konkani people of Goa, celebrated on the first day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra (March-April). On this day, families raise a "gudi" outside their homes, which is regarded as a symbol of victory, good fortune and prosperity.
The gudi is made by tying a bright silk or cotton cloth to the top of a long bamboo stick. A garland of neem and mango leaves and flowers, and a garland of sugar crystals (gathi), are tied around it, and a silver, copper or brass pot is placed upside down on top. The gudi is hoisted at a high place, such as a window, door or terrace, so that it can be seen by everyone, and it is worshipped in the morning.
Several traditions explain the meaning of the gudi. One tradition says that it celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after his victory over Ravana. Another links it with the victory of the Shalivahana kings, whose era (the Shaka era) begins on this day. In Maharashtra, it is also linked with the victories of Chhatrapati Shivaji. According to another belief, Lord Brahma created the world on this day. The word "padwa" refers to the first day of the lunar fortnight.
On Gudi Padwa, people clean and decorate their homes with rangoli, wear new clothes and prepare special dishes such as puran poli and shrikhand. People also eat a mixture of neem leaves and jaggery, a reminder that life brings both bitter and sweet experiences.
The same day is celebrated as Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, and as Cheti Chand by the Sindhi community.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Symbol of mourning for ancestors: the gudi is a symbol of joy, not mourning.
- ✗Symbol of the arrival of the monsoon: Gudi Padwa falls in spring, not in the monsoon.
- ✗Symbol of the end of the harvest of rice: the gudi is not linked with the rice harvest.
Quick tip
Remember: Gudi Padwa = the Marathi New Year, the first day of Chaitra, the gudi as a symbol of victory, Ugadi in the Telugu and Kannada regions.
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Festivals & Fairs of India — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Festivals & Fairs of India, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the religious, harvest, tribal and cultural festivals of India, the fairs (melas) held across the country, and the states, communities and seasons linked to them. It also includes festivals listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, such as Kumbh Mela and Durga Puja in Kolkata. Most questions ask which state celebrates a festival, which tribe it belongs to, or what event it marks. Harvest festivals are especially common: Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Onam (Kerala), Bihu (Assam), Lohri and Baisakhi (Punjab) and Nuakhai (Odisha). Fairs such as the Pushkar camel fair (Rajasthan) and the Sonepur cattle fair (Bihar) are also frequently tested. Revise festivals state by state. Practise the festivals and fairs questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.