page_title: Gudi Padwa
section_title: Festivities
hierarchical_section_title: Gudi Padwa / Festivities
caption_attribution_description: Rangoli with lights हिन्दी: दीये और रंगोली
context_page_description: Gudhi Padwa is a spring-time festival that marks the traditional new year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus. It is celebrated in and near Maharashtra and Goa on the first day of the Chaitra month to mark the beginning of the New year according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar.
  The word पाडवा or पाडवो or पाड्ड्वा/पाड्ड्वो comes from the Sanskrit word प्रतिपदा, which refers to the first day of a lunar fortnight. The festival is observed with colorful floor decorations called rangoli, a special Gudhi flag, street processions, dancing and festive foods.
  In India, first day of the bright phase of the moon is called Gudhi Padwa in Marathi, pāḍya. Konkani Hindus variously refer to the day as सौसार पाडवो or सौसार पाडयो, संसार being a corruption of the word संवत्सर. Telugu Hindus celebrate the same occasion as Ugadi, while Konkani and Kannada Hindus in Karnataka refer to it as युगादि, ಯುಗಾದಿ. The same new year festival is known by other names in different regions of the Indian subcontinent. 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.
context_section_description: On the festive day, courtyards in village houses will be swept clean and plastered with fresh cow-dung. Even in the city, people take the time out to do some spring cleaning. Women and children work on intricate rangoli designs on their doorsteps, the vibrant colours mirroring the burst of colour associated with spring. Everyone dresses up in new clothes and it is a time for family gatherings.
  Traditionally, families prepare a special dish that mixes various flavors, particularly the bitter leaves of the neem tree and sweet jaggery (gur, gul). Additional ingredients include sour tamarind and astringent dhane seeds. This, like the pacchadi recipe used in Ugadi festival, is eaten as a reminder of life's sweet and bitter experiences, as well as a belief that the neem-based mixture has health benefits.
  Maharashtrian families also make many other festive dishes, such as shrikhand and Poori or Puran Poli on this day.
caption: Rangoli
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