The sacred day of the Chaitra Shukla Pratipada for the Hindus is known as Gudi Padwa in the Maharashtrian terminology. Observed on the 1st day of the month of Chaitra, Gudi Padwa marks the New Year for the Maharasthrians, following the lunisolar Hindu calendar. As per the Gregorian calendar, Gudi Padwa or the Maharashtrian New Year falls on March end or at the beginning of the month of April. The festival also commemorates the beginning of the spring season that is 'Vasant'. Following the 'Brahma Purana', there is a belief among the people that Brahma on this day created the world.

Regarding the etymological meaning of the term “Gudi Padwa”, the word “padwa” has been taken from the Sanskrit word “Pratipada”, meaning the 1st day of the lunar month. It also happens to be the 1st day just after the Amavasya or the new moon day. The term padwa is also sometimes used to refer to the 3rd day of Diwali that is Balipratipada. 'Gudi' on the other hand means a pole with a silver or brass pot also known as ‘Kalash’, placed upturned on the top. Covered in colorful clothes of silk, the gudi is also adorned marigolds, coconuts, and mango leaves, symbolizing nature's bounty.

The Marathas believe the gudis to be a symbol of triumph and victory linked with the conquests by some of the great Maratha heroes like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It is also believed that gudis shuns away all evil thereby inviting good luck and prosperity in every house.

Maharashtrian New Year- It’s Celebration Time

With the Gudi Padwa or Maharashtrian New Year, its celebration time for the people in the state of Maharashtra and several other parts in India. It is the harvest and the spring time. Its time for getting involved in fun and merry making! On this festive occasion, the houses in the villages are cleaned and plastered with cow-dung; in the cities also, houses are cleaned. The doorsteps of the houses are decorated by women and children with beautiful rangolis, giving out colorful hues. Everyone puts up on their best dresses and assemble for the family get together. Different types of dishes and special items such as chana usal and soonth panak are prepared on this day! People on this day are traditionally supposed to start the festivities and the celebration on the Gudi Padwa or Maharashtrian New Year by eating neem leaves or neem paste along with gul, tamarind, ajwain and jaggery. It is believed that this paste purifies our blood and also strengthens the immune system of the bodies and prevents it from diseases.

A major part of the Gudi Padwa celebrations consist of the raising of the Gudi. The gudi is required to be raised with extreme care. It has to be raised right next to the actual entry to the house. Outwardly facing the entry to the home, the gudi is positioned on the right side since the soul in the active state is symbolized by the right side. The area where the Gudi would be raised needs to be cleaned properly; a Swastik rangoli is then designed on the floor with haldi and kumkum that is Turmeric and vermilion placed on the centre of the Swastik. While raising the gudi, the 'Shiva-Shakti' mantra or the principle is supposed to be invoked. This helps in accepting the divine principles by the Gudi constituents. ‘Sushumna nadi’ in our body is symbolized by Gudi.

Gudi were raised during wars, as they were considered the symbols of victory. 'Being Victorious' is among the several qualities of the Almighty. It symbolizes the fact that God always achieves victory at different levels. With the hope that victory is achieved at every level of the war, Gudi is raised.

• On this day of the Maharashtrian New Year, people engage in early morning oil bath.
  
  
• This is followed by cleaning the doorstep and decorating it with lintels, mango leaves, flowers and rangolis made of different colors. Red flowers are mostly used to adorn the house since red is the color of auspiciousness.
  
  
• The God is then worshipped as a part of the daily ritual routines. ‘Mahashanti’ is also performed on the New Year of the Maharashtrians, whereby Lord Brahma, the creator of the Universe is worshipped first; people believe that Lord Brahma created the whole Universe on this auspicious day. Brahma is also offered a fragrant plant called davna at the time of the worship. This is followed by the performance of a sacrificial fire or hom, wherein oblations are offered and several offerings to the Brahmans are also made. Next Lord Viíhnu is worshipped. Following this the Brahmans are offered with presents and money; sometimes mythological or historical sacred texts are also presented to them. People believe that the performance of the ‘shanti’, cleans out all the sins and also prevents any new sin from generating. One becomes wealthier along with an increase in the lifespan. In case of women, their married life gets prolonged and he is able to acquire serenity. On the day of the New Year in Maharasthra, the God of that particular day in a week is also worshipped.
  
  
• The Brahma’s flag that is the gudi or the Brahmadhvaj is raised in every household. It represents Lord Rama’s victory over Ravan and the happiness among the people on his return to Ayodhya.
  
  
• On this day people, especially the adults engage themselves in listening to Panchang shravan that is the religious almanac. The priest or the astrologers is ritualistically worshipped. People take this sacred day as an auspicious occasion to perform actions that would bestow happiness. They listen to musical instruments, auspicious songs and stories on holy men.
  
  
• Neem is said to have the maximum abilities of absorbing the prajapati frequencies. Hence on the day of Gudi Padwa or Maharashtrian New Year, a Prasad or offering made of neem alsog with split and soaked gram lentil (dal) or soaked gram, cumin seeds honey, and asafoetida is prepared and taken by the people amidst the sacred mantra chanting.
  
  
• The soil is also taken up for ploughing on the auspicious occasion of the Gudi Padwa.
  
  
• The needy re provided with different types of offerings. Drinking water are offered for free by putting up stalls believing that it would appeases the souls of the ancestors.

Gudi Padwa- its Significance!

The significance of Gudi Padwa or the Maharashtrian New Year is immense. In terms of chronology, this day happens to be the 1st day of the 1st month of the New Year! It has great significance for the Marathi people since Gudhi Padwa marks the beginning of the New Year for them.

When it comes to astrology, the significance of the Maharashtrian New Year lies in the fact that Gudhi Padwa is among the three and a half sacred dates or “Sade-Teen Muhurtas”.

In terms of agriculture, since India is mainly an agrarian country, festivals and celebrations ate often associated with seasons and harvesting of crops. Gudhi Padwa or the Maharasthrian New Year marks the end of one harvesting season along with the beginning of another.

Historically, the festival of Gudi Padwa marks the beginning of the Shalivahana calendar after the Hunas were defeated in a battle by him.

Religiously speaking, as per the Brahma Purana, it is believed that Lord Brahma, the creator of the Universe, built the whole world on this auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa or Maharashtrian New Year!

The seasonal significance that the Gudi Padwa festival bear with it is that, on this day, the sun takes a position right over the point of intersection of the meridians and the equator. As per the Hindu calendar, it commemorates the Vasanta ritu that is the spring season.