Gudi Padwa (Devnagari: ??????????) is celebrated on the first day of theChaitramonth, and is celebrated asNew Year's DaybyMaharashtriansandHinduKonkanis( called as Samvatsar ( Sausar ) Padvo or Yugadi by Konkanis ). It is the same day on which great kingShalivahanadefeatedSakasin battle.
This is also first day of Marathi Calendar. This festival is supposed to mark the beginning of Vasant (spring). According to theGregorian calendarthis would fall sometime at the end of March and the beginning of April. According to theBrahma Purana, this is the day on which Brahma created the world after the deluge and time began to tick from this day forth. This is one of the 3 and a half days in theIndianLunar calendarcalled "Sade-Teen Muhurt", whose every moment is considered auspicious in general to start a new activity.
While the people of Maharashtra use the term Gudi Padwa for this festival and the Konkanis use Sanvsar Padvo (sanvsar derived from samvatsar meaning year) the people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka term the same festival, observed on the same day,Ugadi. TheSindhifestival ofCheti Chandis celebrated same day.
