Maharashtra celebrated
with joy, gratitude and devotion on March 19. A festival of family reunion, new beginnings and marking a shift in season, every Maharashtrian household lights up with fresh mango leaves, marigold flowers and a neatly draped Gudi, a bamboo stick with an inverted copper or silver pot adorned with saree, flowers and sugar candies.
Radhika Vidyasagar, who plays a pivotal role in the daily soap, titled
, spoke to Zoom exclusively about her Gudi Padwa celebration. The actress opened up about her memories of the festival and why they couldn’t be grand enough during school.
Radhika Vidyasagar on Gudi Padwa significance
Radhika explained the significance of Gudi Padwa in every Maharashtrian’s life. Marking the beginning of Chaitra month in the Hindu calendar, the Udne Ki Aasha actress recalled savouring hot puris with cold and freshly churned Shrikhand at home. When asked about taking any resolutions for the Marathi New Year, Radhika shared, “Normally, we have our resolutions fixed on January 1. That is Western culture, and now, we are used to that. For Gudi Padwa, the resolution remains the same for me.”
Why no Gudi Padwa celebration on set?
Talking about celebrating Gudi Padwa on a set, Radhika shared with us, “We don’t celebrate Gudi Padwa on set in Hindi television. Most of them don’t know much about the festival, so it is a private affair for me. Hindi sets don’t have it. Maybe in Marathi television shows, they might be celebrating on set. It hasn’t come down to Hindi yet.”
Radhika went back to school days when Gudi Padwa couldn’t be celebrated lavishly. “March mahine mein aata hai Gudi Padwa. Tabhi school ke final exams hote hai summer vacation ke pehle. Uss time pe grand celebrations rakhna mushkil hota tha. (Gudi Padwa is celebrated in March. At that time, we would have our school final exams before summer vacation. Celebrating lavishly would not be possible.) Our celebrations would be simple, quieter and with the family.”
Kitchen aroma on Gudi Padwa
“Our house kitchen would be filled with the aroma of piping hot puris, fresh Shrikhand. If not Shrikhand, we would make Basundi at home. The aroma of the kitchen is so nostalgic. I can never forget that and the aroma of torans outside the house,” Radhika shared, as she got nostalgic remembering Gudi Padwa celebrations.
Signing off, Radhika wished her fans and audience of Udne Ki Aasha a happy Gudi Padwa and a prosperous new year.