Gudhi Padwa marking the traditional new year for Marathi people is observed every year in different parts of Maharashtra and across the country as well.
This year Gudhi Padwa falls on Saturday 2 April and people mainly in Maharashtra and Goa are all set for the celebration of the new year with full enthusiasm.
The Hindu festival is observed during the spring season by the people native to Goa and Maharashtra but it is also an occasion to celebrate by other Hindus from India.
According to the Hindu calendar, Gudi Padwa also known as Samvastar Padyo is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month every year.
The same festival is observed with the name of Ugadi in other Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana.
The predominantly Maharashtrian festival holds great significance among the Marathi community as it marks the beginning of the Marathi new year.
Gudi Padwa is a combination of 2 words Gudi which means emblem or flag of Lord Brahma and Padwa which comes from the Sanskrit word that means the first day of the moon.
It is believed that the observation of the festival brings good luck, peace and prosperity to the houses and keeps away evil.
People on this day clean their houses and decorates it with mango and neem leaves along with rangoli. Sweet dishes are also prepared to observe the auspicious occasion.
One of the important parts of the festival is to hoist traditional Gudi flags on the terraces of the house which is symbolic of both good and bad.
The flag consists of a bright colourful silk scarf or any other piece of cloth tied at the top of the long bamboo stick covered with neem and mango leaves. The bamboo stick is capped with a pot made up of copper, silver and bronze along with a sugar candy garland.
The sugar candy is symbolic of happy times and neem leaves signify bitter times and the flag as a whole symbolizes victory over evil.
Gudi Padwa is a rare Hindu festival when people worship Lord Bharma. According to Hindu legends, Lord Bharma has formed the universe on this day of Gudi Padwa and introduced months, weeks and days.
Some Hindus also believed that the day marks the coronation ceremony of Lord Rama when he returned to Ayodhya after 14 long years with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman after defeating Ravan.
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