About Gudi Padava
The Maharashtrian New Year's Day is celebrated in March/April, on the first day of Chaitra. It is a day of great festivity and rejoicing. People get up early and clean their houses, decorating them with intricate rangoli designs. A silk cloth is tied to a pole with a brass goblet or kalash atop it, which is supposed to drive away evil from the house. This is raised aloft and worshipped.