Gudi Padwa Festival

Gudi Padwa
Gudi Padwa, the Maharashtrian New Year, celebrated in April, 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 at this time. Lord Vishnu is said to have incarnated as Matsya, the fish, on this day. Prayers are offered to a gudi – an arrangement made of a stick with an upturned pot (originally silver, now any metal) on top around which a new cloth has been wrapped. The gudi is garlanded with flower-shaped sugar lumps and is symbolic of the banner that heralded valiant Marathas returning home, successful, after war. New clothes are worn, and sweets made for the occasion include shrikhand , basundi , and jalebis.