The Gudi Padwa festival is widely celebrated by the Konkani community with great fervor and enthusiasm who follow the Amanta calendar. It is one of the most important festivals celebrated in Maharashtra and Goa. This auspicious Hindu festival of Gudi Padwa marks the beginning of a new year in the Marathi calendar.
Gudi Padwa 2026: Date and Time
Also known as Marathi New Year or Samvatsara Padvo is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra month. The date of this festival is decided by the lunisolar Hindu calendar. This year it will be celebrated on March 19 to mark the commencement of Marathi Shaka Samvat 1948.
In Karnataka this day is celebrated as Yugadhi and in Andhra Pradesh it is called Ugadi. Samvatsara Padvo means the first day of the new Samvat. According to the Hindu calendar of Amanta and Purnimanta, Gudi Padwa is celebrated on Shukla Paksha Pratipada – the first day of the first month of Chaitra.
Meaning of Gudi Padwa
According to legends, Lord Surya revealed the Surya Siddhanta treatise on this day. According to Vedic astrology, Gudi Padwa, Akshaya Tritiya, Vijayadashami and half of Bali Pratipada Sadhe Teen Muhurta. According to popular belief, any work done on these days brings positive results. Buying household items on this day is considered auspicious.
Most North Indian states follow the Purnimanta calendar, which marks the first day of the year with Holi – falling 15 days before Gudi Padwa. In North India, it is celebrated on the same day as the first day of Chaitra Navratri. The nine-day festivities culminate in Rama Navami. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Ugadi marks the beginning of the new year in the Telugu calendar. In Karnataka, Yugadi marks the beginning of the New Year in the Kannada calendar.
Gudi Padwa 2026: Puja Rituals
On this day, devotees perform yajna and hawan, worship Gudi with garlands, flowers, Akshata, kumkum and haldi. The Puja ceremony ends with the distribution of prasadam, cumin seeds and gram lentil.
Devotees today make rangoli and decorate their homes with decorative material and bamboo sticks. Celebrations include preparation of traditional Marathi recipes like Shrikhand, Puran Poli, Rice Chakli and Bhakarwadi which are enjoyed by friends, relatives and family members.
