Reviving Traditions: How One Daughter Rekindled Gudi Padwa to Connect Her Mom with Her Roots

By Vandana Gadia

When Shweta Grover’s mother moved in with her in 2022, something felt missing. In their warm, multicultural home—where Maharashtrian meets Punjabi—Shweta noticed her mom’s quiet longing for the traditions she grew up with. That’s when Shweta, a busy senior executive in a financial institution, decided to bring back a beloved celebration from her childhood: Gudi Padwa.

“I wanted my mom to feel included and connected to her roots,” she told The Inspired Indian. And what better way than through the joy of festivals?

But this time, Shweta wasn’t just celebrating for nostalgia—she wanted to bring her kids into the experience too. “I knew I had to be ready to answer their questions,” she said with a smile. “I never questioned my mom growing up, but this generation is different.”

So she did her homework. In between work meetings and school pickups, Shweta began researching the deeper meaning of Gudi Padwa. She discovered that it marks the day Lord Brahma created the world. The gudi itself—a wooden staff adorned with neem and mango leaves, a vibrant cloth, sweets, and a silver or copper kalash—symbolizes good health, prosperity, and the earth itself.

Armed with knowledge and excitement, she gathered her family. They shopped at a local grocery store, prepped the decorations, and together raised the gudi outside their home. “It turned into this lovely family activity. The kids were curious, my mom was emotional, and I was just happy seeing it all come together.”

That simple, thoughtful gesture became more than just a festival—it was a moment of connection between past and present, tradition and curiosity, mother and daughter, grandparent and child.

Because sometimes, the most lasting gifts aren’t wrapped in ribbons. They’re wrapped in intention, passed down with love, and celebrated in those small rituals that make us feel at home.