In Maharashtra, the New Year is celebrated as Gudi Padwa. It is a day of great festivity and rejoicing and a festival that heralds the advent of spring. Gudi Padwa is considered one of the four most auspicious days in the year when people start new ventures. It is believed that Lord Brahma created the world on this day and so he is worshipped specially at this time.
People prepare for the New Year by cleaning and washing their houses and buying new clothes. People hang "gudis" on their windows on this day to celebrate Mother Nature`s bounty. A "gudi" is a decorated pole with a silk cloth, mango leaves, and marigolds. A brass or a silver vessel is placed on it. The gudi is marked with a swastika. It is raised to announce victory and joy. This "gudi" is erected at sunrise and removed at sunset. People visit the temples to listen to the yearly calendar- `Panchangasravanam` as priests make predictions for the coming year. In Maharashtra, it is reminiscent of the valiant Marathas returning home from their successful expeditions of war. They honour their favourite leader, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The prasad of Gudi Padwa are the bitter leaves of the neem tree with jaggery. There are special foods prepared for this festival. In Maharastra, shrikhand -a fragrant yogurt dessert, with poori-a fried puffy bread is prepared. Greetings and sweets are exchanged. It has become a custom to hold Kavi Sammelans on this day.
