Gudi Padwa marks the traditional Maharashtrian new year. The day is celebrated on the first day of the month of Chaitra according to the Hindu calendar. The festival, which is considered as one of the major Marathi festivals, is also known as Ugadi in Telugu and Yugadi in Kannada. Apart, from this, the day is also considered extremely important for those belonging to the Sindhi community as they celebrate it as Cheti Chand. For them, it is the day when their Isht Devta or family deity Lord Jhulelal had appeared.
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The day is considered significant also because it is believed that the God of creation Lord Brahma had created the universe on this day.
As a mark of celebration of this day people decorate their homes with lights, flowers, rangolis and install and pray to Gudi. Usually, the Gudi, which basically a flag or emblem is either put at the main door outside the house or it is put on one of the windows of the house.
The Gudi can be made by putting together a wooden stick about 4-5 feet long, a Kalash, a piece of fresh unused cloth or a saree, a garland made of sugar candy (saakhar gaathi) and neem leaves.
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The emblem is believed to be a victory symbol and also reflects the fundamental reality which emphasises on the good and bad things. The sugar and neem attached on the Gudi are symbols of sweet and bitter happenings of life.
On the occasion, people also wear new clothes and gorge on to traditional Marathi dishes like Puran Poli, Shrikhand, Modaks etc.
However, the most important dish of the day or the Prasad of Gudi Padwa remains the one which is made using Neem, jaggery, coconut pulp and tamarind.
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