Lok Sabha Speaker to host Gudi Padva lunch for MPs, staff

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan will host lunch for parliamentarians and the staff at Parliament House on Tuesday to coincide with Indian New Year's festivals, including Gudi Padva, Chaitra Sukladi and Ugadi, sources said.

The sources said that arrangement for the lunch have been made for over 6,000 people, including members of the two houses, Parliament staff and media persons.

They said that those on Navratri fast can partake specially-made dishes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who observes nine-day fast during the Navratri, which starts with the Vikram Samvat's New Year's Day on Tuesday, is likely to be present at the lunch hosted by the Speaker.

The Vikram Samvat is an Indian calendar starting in 57 BC when King Vikramaditya defeated the Sakas, who had invaded Ujjain. The day is celebrated as Gudi Padva, Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba in different parts of the country as the traditional New Year's day.

Officials said it is for the first time that Mahajan is hosting a lunch on such a scale in the Parliament premises.

--IANS

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