Gudi Padwa

About

Gudhi Padva, is the Sanskrit name for Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. It is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month to mark the beginning of the New year according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar. This day is also the first day of Chaitra Navratri and Ghatasthapana also known as Kalash Sthapana is done on this day.

The word pāḍavā or pāḍavo comes from the Sanskrit word pāḍḍavā/ pāḍḍavo, which stands for the first day of the bright phase of the moon called pratipadā in Sanskrit.

In south India, first day of the bright phase of the moon is called pāḍya. Konkani Hindus variously refer to the day as saṁsāra ‘pāḍavo/ saṁsāra pāḍye, saṁsāra being a corruption of the word saṁvatsara. Konkani Hindus in Karnataka also refer to it as ugādi.