Gudi Padwa 2026 Date, Time & Puja Muhurat: When to Celebrate Marathi New Year? Gudi Preparation, Installation

Gudi Padwa marks the beginning of the Hindu and Marathi New Year and is celebrated with great devotion, colour and traditional fervour, especially in Maharashtra. The festival symbolises renewal, prosperity and the victory of good over evil, with families welcoming the new year by raising the sacred Gudi outside their homes.

Gudi 2026 Date, Time: When To Celebrate Marathi New Year

Considered one of the most auspicious occasions in the Hindu calendar, Gudi Padwa in 2026 the festival will be celebrated on Thursday, 19 March. According to Hindu dharmashastra, the ritual of raising the Gudi is not merely symbolic but represents victory, prosperity and the ushering in of a new cycle of time.

Chaitra Shuddha Pratipada 2026

Also known as Chaitra Shuddha Pratipada, the festival is regarded as one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar. It is believed that new ventures, business beginnings and important decisions initiated on this tithi bring long-term success and good fortune.

Gudi Padwa 2026 Date, Tithi, Puja Muhurat

For 2026, the Chaitra Pratipada tithi begins at 06:55 a.m. on 19 March and ends at 04:50 a.m. on 20 March. Since the festival follows the rising tithi, celebrations will take place on 19 March. The day is also counted among the "sade-teen" (three-and-a-half) highly auspicious muhurats in the Hindu calendar, making it especially suitable for religious ceremonies and new beginnings.

The primary Gudi Padwa Puja Muhurat on 19 March 2026 falls between 06:44 a.m. and 08:14 a.m., shortly after sunrise. In addition, devotees may observe other favourable time windows during the day, including the Abhijit Muhurat from 12:04 p.m. to 12:53 p.m., the Labh Muhurat from 12:46 p.m. to 02:17 p.m., and the Amrit Muhurat from 02:17 p.m. to 03:49 p.m. The recommended time to take down the Gudi later in the evening is between 05:18 p.m. and 06:49 p.m.

Gudi Padwa Puja Muhurat: 06:44 a.m. to 08:14 a.m. on 19 March 2026
Gudi Abhijit Muhurat: 12:04 p.m. to 12:53 p.m.
Gudi Labh Muhurat: 12:46 p.m. to 02:17 p.m.
Gudi Amrit Muhurat: 02:17 p.m. to 03:49 p.m.
Auspicious Time to Take Down the Gudi: 05:18 p.m. to 06:49 p.m.

Despite its deep cultural roots, many families continue to look for the correct method, auspicious timings and rituals associated with the celebration each year.

Across Maharashtra, homes and streets come alive with colourful Gudi displays, traditional processions and cultural programmes, while similar New Year traditions are observed in several other Indian states under different names.

How the Gudi Is Traditionally Prepared and Installed

The Gudi is ideally raised soon after sunrise, following Brahmamuhurta and the ritual oil bath known as abhyanga snan. Families begin by thoroughly cleaning the chosen location, typically near the main entrance or a window facing the street. The area is swept, washed and decorated with rangoli so that the Gudi becomes the central festive feature of the home.

A medium-height bamboo pole forms the base of the Gudi. It is first washed and dried, after which a new silk cloth-usually in bright yellow or red, or a traditional sari or khan fabric with a zari border-is tied at the top. This cloth symbolises prosperity, auspiciousness and celebration.

Devotional decorations are then added to the upper portion of the pole. Neem leaves or a whole neem twig, mango leaves, and a garland of fresh flowers are fastened securely. Marigold flowers are commonly used for their vibrant colour and sacred association. Strings of sugar crystals (gaathi) are also attached, representing sweetness in the coming year and balancing the bitterness of neem.

The final and most distinctive element is a copper or silver pot (kalash) placed upside down at the tip of the bamboo pole. This pot covers the cloth and decorations and signifies victory and divine blessings. Traditional five-finger swastik symbols are drawn on the kalash using kumkum. Devotees then apply ashtagandha, turmeric and kumkum, offer prayers and bow before the Gudi with reverence.

Worship and Significance of Gudi Padwa

The Gudi is usually mounted on a wooden stool or "paat" at the prepared spot, or securely fixed to a window so that it remains visible from outside. Once installed upright, families gather together with an aarti thali to perform worship. The raised Gudi is believed to invite prosperity, ward off evil and symbolise the triumph of good over adversity as the new year begins.