Cultural significance of Gudi Padwa: Maharashtra's New Year

According to Hindu calendar, this day marks the beginning of spring unlike the popular belief that the season begins on Holi. A woman dressed in traditional attire drives a motorcycle as she takes part in a procession celebrating 'Gudhi Padwa' in Mumbai on Tuesday. (AFP)

It is believed that on this day, Lord Brahma recreated the universe after the flood that destroyed the world. It is also believed that on this day, Lord Rama defeated King Vali and emerged victorious, and therefore, the festival holds a special importance for people. A woman dressed in traditional Marathi attire participates during the Gudi Padwa celebrations in Mumbai on Tuesday. (PTI)

An offering of Neem leaves and jaggery is made to the God and then distributed among family members. The mixture is said to improve immunity and purify blood. Here Marathi women are performing a group dance as part of 'Gudi Padwa' celebrations in Thane on Tuesday. (PTI)

A group of Marathi women with placards displaying a message to save girl child walk on streets during 'Shobha Yatra', to celebrate the Maharashtrian new year 'Gudi Padwa', in Thane on Tuesday. (PTI)

A woman decked up in traditional attire, participate in a community parade ('Shobha Yatra') to celebrate the Maharashtrian new year 'Gudi Padwa', in Mumbai on Tuesday. (PTI)

People wear traditional attires – men in their dhoti and kurta and a turban called ‘pheta’, and women in nine yard ‘nav vaari’ sarees. Here a man and woman dressed up in traditional attire watch as people throng the streets in Thane on Tuesday. (PTI)

People from Marathi community participate during 'Gudi Padwa' celebrations in Mumbai on Tuesday. (PTI)

A tableau at the Gudi Padwa procession in Mumbai. (Arun Jetlie | EPS)

Around 3000 people wearing traditional Maharashtrian attire taking part in Mumbai on Tuesday. (Arun Jetlie | EPS)

Women in their Maharashtrian finery ride Bullet bikes with Shivaji statue during a Gudi Padwa procession in Mumbai. (Arun Jetlie | EPS)

A tiny tot shows off his riding skills during the Shobha Yatra taken out for Gudi Padwa in Mumbai. (Arun Jetlie | EPS)

A man and his daughter wear traditional kurta dhoti and a navvaari sari in Mumbai during the Gudi Padwa procession in Mumbai. A variety of culinary preparations like Puran Poli (boiled gram and jiggery mixed and filled into a paratha), Shrikhand and Kheer are relished on this day. (Arun Jetlie | EPS)

Gudi Padwa procession in Mumbai. (Arun Jetlie | EPS)

A son dressed in traditional Peshwai attire during the Gudi Padwa procession in the Maharashtrian capital. (Arun Jetlie | EPS)

Women in Navvvari sarees don the traditional 'pheta', a headgear, during the Gudi Padwa procession. (Arun Jetlie | EPS)

Another tableau in Mumbai during the celebration of Maharasthra New Year on Tuesday. (Arun Jetlie | EPS)

A man dressed as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a 17th century Maratha king of the Bhonsle clan in Mumbai on the occasion of Gudi Padwa. (Arun Jetlie | EPS)