Gudi Padwa

Gudi Padwa is a spring festival marking the start of the traditional new year, primarily for Marathi and Konkani Hindus but for other Hindus as well. It is celebrated in and around Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and the union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu at the start of Chaitra, the first month of the lunisolar Hindu calendar. Padava or paadvo comes from the Sanskrit word pratipada, which is the first day of a lunar fortnight. This festival is observed with colourful floor decorations called rangoli, a special Gudi dvaja (a saree or piece of cloth garlanded with flowers, mango, and neem leaves; a sugar crystal garland called gathi, topped with upturned silver or copper vessels), street processions, dancing, and festive foods. In Maharashtra, first day of the bright phase of the moon is called gudi padwa (गुढी पाडवा), pādyo (पाडयो; ಪಾಡ್ಯ; Telugu: పాడ్యమి, paadyami). Konkani Hindus variously refer to the day as सौसार पाडवो or सौसार पाडयो (sausāra pāḍawa / sausāra pāḍye), संसार (sansāra) being a corruption of the word संवत्सर (sanvastar). Telugu Hindus celebrate the same occasion as Ugadi, while Kannada Hindus in Karnataka refer to it as युगादि, ಯುಗಾದಿ (yugādi). The Sindhi community celebrates this day as Cheti Chand as the new year and is observed as the emergence day of Lord Jhulelal. Prayers are offered to Lord Jhulelal, and the festival is celebrated by making delicacies like tahiri (sweet rice) and sai bhaji. However, this is not the universal new year for all Hindus. For some, such as those in and near Gujarat, the new year festivities coincide with the five-day Diwali festival. For many others, the new year falls on Vaisakhi between 13 and 15 April, according to the solar cycle part of the Hindu lunisolar calendar and this is by far the most popular not only among Hindus of the Indian subcontinent but also among Buddhists and Hindus in many parts of Southeast Asia. Gudhi means flag. Erect a flag on the houses as part of the celebration in Maharashtra, where it is mainly celebrated.