pune bright gudis adorned with sweets will usher in the maharashtrian new year on march 23 the occasion of gudi padwa will be celebrated in homes over a lavish feast of pooran poli and shrikhand the day also marks the end of one agricultural harvest and the beginning of a new one the gudi is represented by a long bamboo stick covered with a shining copper pot decorated with a swastika in vermillion and is adorned with garlands of gaathi or sugar crystals mango and neem leaves hoisted atop a window well before sunrise the gudi is much reason to bring family members together the occasion also heralds the beginning of spring homes are swept clean to usher in the new season doorways are decked up in stunning and colourful rangoli and investments are made in home appliances or other fixed assets as the day marks an auspicious occasion for maharashtrians the gudi implies a flag and hoisting it is a way of welcoming the maharashtrian new year we are also planning to buy a home appliance this gudi padwa says collegian avanti chitale a prayer and prasad follow a feast of shrikhand and puri mark the gastronomical delights of gudi padwa finally the gudi is taken off before the sunset the festival is also celebrated as ugadi in andhra pradesh yugadi in karnataka and as cheti chand in the sindhi community the day also marks the beginning of the spring or vasant season as per the hindu calendar neem and mango leaves play a significant role in the festival its often advised to plant a neem tree in ones garden as it a very good disinfectant and drives away pests traditionally families are supposed to begin the festivities by eating the bittersweet leaves of the neem tree says homemaker kamal khatpe a delectable feast is also whipped up in maharashtrian homes on the special occasion i have been busy preparing to make the finest homemade shrikhandpuri and pooran poli this gudi padwa its a very important day that helps family members share in each others happiness says homemaker vaishali rane