Gudi Padwa

Gudi Padwa is the traditional New Year’s Day celebration for the Marathi and Konkani communities in India, marking the start of the Hindu lunar calendar’s new year. Celebrated typically in March or April, it signifies renewal, prosperity, and victory. People decorate their homes with a special bamboo pole called a "Gudi," adorned with cloth, sugar, and neem leaves, which is raised outside or inside the house. Rituals include prayer, feasting, and cleaning to invite positive energy. The day also coincides with the blooming of certain seasonal plants, symbolizing new beginnings and hope.