After getting drenched in various colors of Rang Panchami, we look forward to welcoming the New Year! According to Indian tradition, the first day of the new year is Chaitra Shuddha Pratipada i.e. ‘Gudhi Padwa’! On this day, we welcome the sun on the first day of the year in the form of Gudhi . We wake up early in the morning and celebrate the first day of the new year by hoisting a Gudhi tied to Neem leaves and Gathi(sugar crystal garland). The sweet food made at home adds joy to the celebration on this auspicious day of Padwa!
We have been following this tradition of Gudhi Padwa for centuries. One can observe that there is a huge difference in the way we welcome the new year as opposed to how the rest of the world does. Why doesn’t our culture celebrate the new year on December 31st, just like many others do? Traditionally, we never welcome anyone with bitter food. Then why do we use Neem, which is bitter in taste, and Gathi (sugar crystals) to welcome the sun, on which nature’s cycle depends? Such food is not prepared on any other festivals. Then why have we been doing this for hundreds of years on the first day of Gudhi Padwa? Our search for answers to these questions led us to discovering them in Ayurveda.
The tradition of Gudhi Padwa was created keeping our health in mind. Only if our bodies are healthy, we can celebrate the new year happily. To give our year a healthy and disease-free start, foods such as Neem leaves and Gathi are used. On the occasion of ‘Gudhi Padwa’, let’s explore the science behind this tradition.
By this Pratipada in Chaitra, it has been a long time since the uttarayan(Summer solstice) of the sun has started. Naturally, we now feel the intensity of heat. During the next two-and-a-half months, this intensity goes up. Our body, being a part of nature, also gets affected by this heat. Our body heat increases with the heat in the atmosphere. This leads to multiple problems like feeling hot, heat rashes or skin rashes. The increasing heat can affect(spoil) our blood as well. It can cause problems like pimples, blisters, bleeding from nose. Our appetite goes down in summer. The best solution to all these issues is ‘Kadunimb’(Neem).
Since bitter-tasting Neem has a cooling quality, it is a great medicine for all heat related diseases. Therefore, it should be used during the summer months of Chaitra and Vaishakh. Neem powder reduces the heat of the body. Since it is a good blood purifier, it reduces blisters on the skin. It also reduces irritation caused by prickly heat. Similarly, it is also useful in problems like itchy skin. If heat causes bleeding from the body, it has the power to stop it immediately. Neem also has a good effect on the liver. It improves the function of the liver as well as increases appetite which is naturally reduced during this season. It is useful for reducing burning sensation in stomach and acidity.
In summer, many a times we experience stomach upset/indigestion . We especially experience more when we eat outside food. Neem is helpful with such problems. Hence, ‘Kadunimb’ is important in this period.
The sweet-tasting sugar present in the Gathi(sugar crystals) is also helpful along with Kadunimb(Neem).The sweetness in sugar helps to reduce the fatigue of the body. Chewing the Gathi helps with problems such as dry mouth and frequent thirst. The sugar’s sweetness refreshes all the cells in the body. The Kadunimb(Neem) can increase the Vaat dosh in body. However, the sugar helps to prevent it. Generally, sweet foods are heavy to digest. However, sugar is an exception, though it is sweet. Hence, consuming it in this season is beneficial. All these factors about our health have been considered in this tradition of ‘Gudhi’. All our traditions have survived for centuries because they have scientific basis.
Dr Mayuresh Aagte