Gudi Padwa

When to do the puja

Quick facts

• Also known asPadwa, Ugadi (Karnataka, Andhra, Telangana), Cheti Chand (Sindhi), Navreh (Kashmir)
• WhereMaharashtra, Goa and Daman; under other names elsewhere
• Puja forThe gudi, as Brahma's flag
• In one lineChaitra Shukla Pratipada: the Marathi and Konkani new year, and the new year of the Shalivahan Shaka.

Gudi Padwa, in a little more detail

1. 01

   About the festival

   The Marathi year begins on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, and so does the new year of the Shalivahan Shaka. Spring is in full bloom, and there is no better day for a fresh start.

   The gudi is a flag of victory and joy. Tradition holds that Brahma created the world on this day, which is why the gudi is also called Brahmadhwaj, Brahma's flag.

   Today you eat neem leaves with jaggery. Bitter and sweet together: the year will bring both, so take both as they come.

2. 02

   Why the gudi?

   There's no single story behind the gudi. In one, Rama returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana and was crowned, and people raised gudis at every home in their joy.

   Another is Maharashtra's own. King Shalivahana defeated his enemies, and when he came home to Paithan the people raised gudis to welcome him. The Shalivahan Shaka is counted from that victory.

   And the oldest belief of all: Brahma created time and the universe on this day. So the year begins today.

3. 03

   In Maharashtra and beyond

   In the morning the gudi goes up at the door or window: a silk cloth at the top of a tall bamboo, neem and mango leaves, a garland of flowers and a gathi of sugar crystals, and an upturned copper or silver pot on top. It comes down at sunset.

   A rangoli at the door, and shrikhand-puri or puran poli for lunch. It's one of the three and a half auspicious muhurtas, so a good day to buy something new, move house or start new work.

   In Girgaon, Dombivli, Thane and Pune, new year processions fill the streets: nauvari saris, pheta turbans, dhol-tasha and lezim.

   In Karnataka, Andhra and Telangana the same day is Ugadi, and there too people eat a pachadi of neem, jaggery and tamarind. Sindhis keep Cheti Chand, and Kashmiri Pandits Navreh.

How to do the puja

In short: A clean house, rangoli at the door, the gudi up after sunrise, neem and jaggery, a sweet naivedya, and the gudi down at sunset.

1. 1Clean the house, and draw a rangoli at the door.In many homes a swastika goes in the middle of the rangoli, with haldi-kunku on it.
2. 2Bathe and put on new or traditional clothes.Many like to dress up: a nauvari sari for women, a pheta for men.
3. 3Make the gudi: a silk cloth at the top of a stick, neem and mango leaves, a flower garland, a sugar gathi, and an upturned pot on top.A sari can take the place of the cloth. The pot is copper, silver or brass.
4. 4After sunrise, raise the gudi by the door or at a window.It goes on the right of the door as you look out of the house. Tie it firmly so the wind can't bring it down.
5. 5Worship it with sandalwood paste, flowers, akshata and haldi-kunku, a lamp and incense.At the gudi, remember Ganesha and the family deity too, and bow to your elders.
6. 6Eat neem leaves with jaggery, or the neem chutney.For the chutney, neem leaves are ground with ajwain, salt, hing, pepper and sugar or jaggery.
7. 7Offer puran poli or shrikhand-puri as naivedya, and hear the new year's panchang.Hearing the panchang is varshaphal: hearing what the new year holds.
8. 8At sunset, offer haldi-kunku and flowers and take the gudi down.It isn't kept up late: once the day ends, the new year is in the house.

What you needTick as you go

• A bamboo or a long stick
• A silk cloth or a sari
• Neem and mango leaves
• A flower garland and a sugar gathi
• A copper, silver or brass pot
• Rope to tie the gudi
• Rangoli
• Sandalwood paste, flowers, akshata, haldi and kunku
• A lamp and incense
• Neem leaves and jaggery
• Shrikhand-puri or puran poli

Frequently asked questions