Gudi Padwa
The Marathi New Year: a gudi at every door, neem and jaggery, shrikhand puri, and shobha yatras with dhol tasha across Pune.
Quick facts
- Month:
- Chaitra, March or April
- Gudi Padwa 2027:
- Wednesday 7 April 2027
- New year:
- Shaka 1949 begins in 2027
- Known for:
- Gudi at every door, shobha yatras, shrikhand puri
Gudi Padwa is the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra and the start of the new year in Maharashtra. It falls in March or April, when the new Shaka year begins. Many people link it with the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya and with the start of the Shalivahan Shaka calendar.
Raising the gudi
Early in the morning, families clean the house, draw a rangoli at the door and raise a gudi. It is a long bamboo stick with a bright silk cloth tied at the top, a copper or silver pot turned upside down over it, neem leaves, mango leaves, a garland of flowers and a garland of sugar crystals called gathi. The gudi is placed at the door, in a window or on the terrace, so that it can be seen from far, and is taken down before sunset.
Neem, jaggery and shrikhand
The day begins with a little paste of neem leaves and jaggery, bitter and sweet together, as a reminder that the year will bring both. Lunch is a festive meal, often with shrikhand puri or puran poli.
Gudi Padwa in Pune
Pune wakes up to dhol tasha on Gudi Padwa. Many areas hold shobha yatras, new year processions with music, lezim, palkhis and people in traditional dress, and women in nauvari sarees with pheta on their heads ride two-wheelers in the rallies. The old peths, Kothrud, Sinhagad Road and Pimpri Chinchwad have some of the biggest processions.
A good day to begin
Gudi Padwa is one of the three and a half most auspicious days of the year, called sade teen muhurta, so no special muhurta is needed. Many Punekars book a new home, buy gold, or bring home a new car or two-wheeler on this day, and shops and showrooms stay busy.
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More in Festivals of Pune
-
Shiv Jayanti
The birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, celebrated on 19 February with processions and programmes.
- Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti The birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on 14 April, marked in Pune with tributes at his statues, processions, music and lectures through the day and night.
-
Navratri and Dasara
Nine nights of the goddess, with the Chaturshrungi fair, garba and dandiya, ending in Dasara: apta leaves as gold, Ravan dahan and new beginnings.
-
Diwali
The festival of lights: lamps, kandils, rangoli, faral and shopping crowds on Laxmi Road.
-
Palkhi (Ashadhi Wari)
Every year the palkhis of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram pass through Pune with lakhs of Varkaris walking to Pandharpur.
- Holi and Rang Panchami The festival of colours: a Holi bonfire and puran poli on the full moon night, then colours on Dhulivandan and again on Rang Panchami.
Questions and answers
When is Gudi Padwa in 2027?
Gudi Padwa is on Wednesday 7 April 2027.
What is a gudi made of?
A bamboo stick with a silk cloth at the top, an upturned copper or silver pot, neem and mango leaves, a flower garland and a garland of sugar crystals.
Why do people buy gold or vehicles on Gudi Padwa?
It is one of the sade teen muhurta, the three and a half most auspicious days of the year, so it is thought a good day for new beginnings.
Sources: Written by PuneDiary. 2027 date checked against Drik Panchang on 15 October 2026.