The beginning of the Hindu New Year is marked by the much- awaited spring festival known as Gudi Padwa. This fiesta is celebrated with utmost gusto in Maharashtra, Goa, and Madhya Pradesh. The word ‘Gudi’ means a flag and ‘padwa’ means the first day of the phase of the moon. To fully immerse yourself in this auspicious day, here are 4 DIY ideas that you can try out on this occasion!
1. Crafting the Perfect Gudi
Making Gudi requires little but fresh materials. First, take a bamboo stick and tie a platted bright-colored cloth around it. The Gudi clothes are usually green, orange, and yellow, and they are embellished with brocade. The cloth should be tightly wrapped around the stick with string or thread. Next, take some mango leaves and arrange them in a circular pattern. Next, take the mango leaves or stems of mango leaves and arrange them in a circular pattern at the top of the mango stick. Wrap a garland of flowers, preferably marigolds, around the bamboo stick, on top of the mango leaves. Finally, take a bamboo stick and fix it just above the flowers. The Gudi is now ready to be hoisted on Gudi Padwa Day.
2. A Kaleidoscope of Colors
Rangoli is one of the most widespread and gorgeous art forms that originated in India. In Rajasthan, it is called ‘mandana’ whereas the Tamilians refer to it as ‘kolam’. Gudi Padwa-themed rangoli is also very common among Maharashtrian households during this time. To draw a rangoli you can use colored powder, rice flour, and even flowers. Although there are abundant designs available the most popular is the drawing of ‘Gudi dhwaja’ (a saree garlanded with flowers, mango, and neem leaves crowned with an upturned copper vessel). Use a long, and lovely calligraphy font to write the name of the event beside the drawing.
Credit: Radhika Rangoli/Instagram
3. Toran Delights
It is always considered a prudent thing to create a wall hanging to enhance the auspiciousness of the house. These hangings are termed ‘toran’. Our Warli toran workshop can offer you inspiring ideas to infuse your decor with a captivating folk art essence. This way, you not only embrace the beauty of Maharashtra's indigenous traditions but also contribute to their preservation.
Torans can be made of a variety of materials such as wool, trinkets, and flowers. To make a flower toran, first, gather a bunch of fresh flowers of your desired color scheme. Stitch all the fresh flowers together. Once you have stitched them you can hang them in the form of loops or vertical hangings. Add beads and tassels to give your toran a more decorative look. This lovely decoration is sure to imbue your home with a cheerful and welcoming atmosphere.
4. Your Divine Corner
With just a few easy steps, you can create a small and portable Gudi temple that incorporates all the elements of the festival as miniatures. Begin by taking a wooden board and gluing a colorful festival cloth to it. To make a kalash, paint a small earthen pot and draw a swastika on it. Cut a green paper in the shape of mango leaves and mold a brown clay into the shape of a coconut. Assemble all the elements in order and your kalash is ready. Next add two small containers and place a lace around them. These containers are meant to hold red and orange vermillion. The most important element is the Gudi Padwa stick. To make this, cover a wooden stick with colorful decorative paper. Tie a vibrant piece of cloth at one end of the stick and insert a small vessel on this end. Add a garland to complete the look. Stick the other end to the board using glue. Now simply assemble all the items and you have your very own temple for Gudi Padwa!
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