PM tweets to extend his greetings
On the occasion of Navreh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended greetings on the traditional Indian new year wishing people happiness and good health.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his greetings through his official tweet in Hindi, "Greetings on Gudi Padwa. I wish you happiness and good health this year. May all your wishes be fulfilled in the coming year."
While highlighting the significance of the traditional new year, Gudi Padwa is primarily celebrated by the people in Maharashtra and Goa. The auspicious festival derives its name from two words -- 'gudi' which is the flag of Lord Brahma and 'padwa' which signifies the first day of the phase of the moon.
The occasion signals the onset of the warmer days and the spring season.
The festival is observed with colourful floor decorations, a special Gudhi flag garlanded with flowers, mango and neem leaves, and topped with upturned silver or copper vessels, street processions, dancing and festive foods like shrikhand puri.
Gudi Padwa coincides with the first day of the Chaitra Navratra and festivals like Sajibu Cheiraoba, Navreh, Cheti Chand and Ugadi that are celebrated in different parts of the country.
Moreover, today also marks the Hindu new year according to the Vikram Samwat calendar.
"Happy Navratri to all the countrymen. May this festival of worship of Shakti infuse new energy in everyone's life," tweeted the Prime Minister.
Celebrated during the spring season, Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratri is considered to be an important nine-day celebration for Hindus.
This year, the festival starts on April 2 and will end on April 11. The first day of Chaitra Navratri falls during the 'Shukla Paksha' of the moon which is the full moon phase. The rituals performed during the nine days to worship Goddess Durga, vary each day. It also marks the birthday of Lord Rama, which usually falls on the ninth day during the Navratri festivity, hence it is also known as Rama Navratri.
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