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Gudi Padwa is celebrated as the Marathi New Year, beginning on the first day of Chaitra during the moon’s waxing phase. It is a spring festival associated with renewal, and its date changes each year on the Gregorian calendar. Traditions described in Maharashtra include raising a decorated Gudi outside the home, making rangoli, praying and sharing festive foods.
What is Gudi Padwa?
Gudi Padwa is one of Maharashtra’s major festivals and is observed as the Marathi New Year. The Department of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra, describes it as “one of the most significant festivals in Maharashtra, celebrated as the Marathi New Year.” The festival marks the start of Chaitra in the Hindu lunisolar calendar and is associated with spring and new beginnings.
It is not a single New Year celebration shared uniformly by every Hindu community. Related observances have different regional names and customs; Maharashtra Sadan notes that a related observance is known as Ugadi in parts of South India. It is more accurate to use the relevant community’s name and describe its own traditions than to treat these festivals as interchangeable.
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The festival falls on Chaitra’s first day, so its Gregorian date varies from year to year. It generally falls around March or early April. In 2026, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s public-holiday list gives the date as March 19; Lok Bhavan Maharashtra also reported the Governor hoisting a Gudi that day. That date applies to 2026, not to future years. Check a current calendar for the year and local holiday information you need.
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- Diwali DIY Decorations: this set includes 4 rectangular rangoli stencils, each measuring 12 x 2.4 inches and featuring a different design; Unleash your creativity and craft your own rangoli decorations
- Material: our Diwali rangoli stencils are made from quality wood that is reusable and easy to clean; They are strong, ensuring you can enjoy using them for your Diwali celebrations year after year
- Easy to Use: these Diwali rangoli decoration stencils are simple to use; Just place the stencil on your desired surface, apply your colors, and lift to reveal a flawless design; They are suitable for beginners and experienced rangoli artists alike
- Versatile Application: the rangoli stencil are suitable for various surfaces, including floors, entryways, and tabletops; Transform your festival into a visual feast and add a festive touch to your space with these decorations
- Enjoy DIY Fun: these Diwali rangoli stencils allow you to get creative with your family and collectively create intricate and colorful designs; This kit is a way to celebrate and make beautiful memories together
What is a Gudi?
A Gudi is a decorated, flag-like arrangement raised outside a home. In the description from Maharashtra Tourism, it is made with a bamboo stick decorated with cloth, flowers, neem leaves and sugar garlands, and topped with a silver or copper pot. The specific materials and arrangements can vary between households; the description is not a rule that every family must follow.
The Gudi is associated with auspiciousness and victory. Maharashtra Tourism recounts a traditional belief that Lord Rama defeated Ravana and returned victoriously to Ayodhya on this day, with the Gudi symbolizing victory. This is a religious narrative, not an independently established historical account. Accounts of the festival’s origins also vary, so its historical beginnings should not be reduced to one definitive explanation.
Rank #2
- Complete Rangoli Kit – Includes 12 unique square stencils with Om, Swastik, lotus, diya, feet, flowers, and geometric patterns, plus 6 border stencils, total 18 reusable pieces.
- Easy to Use – Just place the stencil on the floor, sprinkle color powder or paint, and lift for a perfect design every time. Ideal for beginners and experts alike
- Reusable & Durable – Made from sturdy, washable plastic material that allows long-term use for multiple festivals and occasions.
- Traditional & Modern Designs – Features sacred symbols (Om, Swastik, Kalash, diya) along with floral and abstract patterns to suit all festive decorations.
- Perfect for Festivals & Celebrations – Great for Diwali, Navratri, Weddings, Pooja, Home Temple, Parties, and Indian Cultural Events, adding a vibrant and spiritual touch to your home
How do people celebrate?
Practices vary, but Maharashtra Tourism describes a range of household and community customs:
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- Cleaning and decorating the home, often with colorful rangoli at the entrance.
- Raising a Gudi outside the home.
- Praying and sharing prasad with family or visitors.
- Gathering with family and taking part in community events, which may include processions and cultural performances.
Rangoli adds color to the threshold and is one way households decorate for the occasion. The department names colorful rangoli but does not prescribe a particular design, pigment or technique. A Gudi and rangoli are traditional decorations, not requirements for observing the day.
Rank #3
- Ample Set Quantity: this craft kit comes with a total of twelve pieces, including 12 Rangoli lotus stencil patterns and other Diwali characteristic element cutting dies; The combination of different traditional Indian festival styles provides a rich variety of options to meet various crafting and decorative needs, whether for personal DIY projects or small scale decoration tasks
- Various Sizes: this Diwali-themed cutting die set ranges in size from 5 inches to 11.8 inches, including one large, intricate 11.8-inch floral design, three 9-inch decorative patterns, one 11-inch decorative pattern, two 5-inch designs, one 7-inch design, and four continuous decorative borders, suitable for crafts of various sizes
- Durable Material: crafted from PET plastic, these stencils and cutting dies boast excellent durability and flexibility; The sturdy material prevents easy damage even with frequent use, while the flexibility allows for smooth application on various surfaces without losing their original shape, ensuring long term usability
- Fun DIY Creativity: ideal for DIY enthusiasts, these stencils and cutting dies are great for scrap booking, card making, Rangoli drawing and other handmade projects; Users can mix and match different lotus, flowers and Diwali patterns to create personalized festival crafts, fully unleashing their creativity and enjoying the fun of hands on production
- Diverse Usage Scenarios: these Indian festival themed tools are suitable for a wide range of flat surfaces such as fences, glass, wood, walls, canvas, furniture, fabric, floors, and metal; They are fitting for home decor, Diwali themed parties, Indian traditional festival celebrations, and other occasions, adding an authentic festive and auspicious touch to different spaces
What foods are associated with Gudi Padwa?
Maharashtra Tourism lists puran poli, shrikhand, neem with jaggery, and basundi among popular festival foods. Puran poli is a sweet flatbread filled with jaggery and lentils. Shrikhand is a sweet yogurt-based dessert, often served with puris. Neem’s bitterness and jaggery’s sweetness are described as a reminder to accept both life’s challenges and its joys.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How does Gudi Padwa relate to other regional New Year observances?
Gudi Padwa is particularly associated with Maharashtra and the Marathi New Year. Other regions have New Year observances with their own local names and traditions; Ugadi, for example, is a related observance in parts of South India. The available government descriptions establish that regional variation, but do not provide a complete comparison of all communities, calendar practices, dates or foods. Avoid assuming that every related celebration has the same date-specific customs as Gudi Padwa.
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- Indian Mandala Design: The wooden Rangoli Mat showcases classic mandala patterns, a deeply rooted symbol in Indian tradition. It includes only 6 reusable wooden mandala templates (6 different designs)(sand/paint not included). Great for creating mandala patterns for Diwali and other Indian festivals
- Easy to Use: Create beautiful artwork with your own sand, rice, or flowers, paint, beans, or colored sand. Wipe clean after use for years of reusable DIY fun. You can use colored pens instead of mandala paint to keep the DIY process neat and organized
- Ideal Size: This 9x9 inch wooden Diwali decorative mat features a precise laser-cut pattern. It meets a variety of decorating needs and is ideal for any occasion or celebration. Natural wood construction ensures longevity. Reusable
- Versatile Placement: The wooden Rangoli Sand Art Kit is an ideal size and can be placed in multiple locations throughout your home. It can serve as a stunning centerpiece for a Diwali mandala sand painting or as a traditional porch decoration. Great for creating a wooden DIY Floral Diwali mandala sand painting display and traditional Hindu New Year celebration anywhere in your home
- Multi-purpose decoration: The Diwali decorative mats can be used for Diwali, Holi, Ganesha Festival, Navratri, Onam, Pongal, Nakhon Siege, Ao Nang, New Year, Harvest Festival,Temple, Wedding, Ganesh Pooja, Puja, Hindu, Shubh Labh,Christmas, and Varalakshmi Pooja decorations. You can easily place these mandala mats anywhere you like, such as floors, furniture, tables, water surfaces, walls, and gardens. This mandala floral pattern will fully inspire your creativity
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- Stunning Diwali Rangoli Kit: this rangoli stencils and rangoli sands set includes 8 vibrant colors: red, pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, deep blue, and purple, each highly pigmented for eye catching, long lasting patterns; Nice for creating intricate Diwali art festive decorations or creative DIY projects
- Wooden Material Traditional Patterns: you will receive 6 rangoli stencils featuring traditional floral and geometric motifs; Made from natural wood, each kolam stencils indian measures approximately 12 x 2.36 inches with a combined thickness of 0.25 inches, ensuring precise designs and repeated use without bending or breaking
- Easy to Use: the rangoli stencils kit comes with a brush featuring soft bristles and a comfortable wooden handle; This rangoli kit allows you to fill rangoli stencils evenly, add finishing touches or blend colors smoothly for looking rangoli sand art
- Fun and Engaging DIY Activity: this Diwali rangoli stencils kit is suitable for families and cultural workshops; It sparks creativity, enhances hand eye coordination and brings friends and family together to design beautiful Diwali patterns, fostering festive joy and interactive learning
- Versatile Decoration Kit: rangoli stencils is suitable for floors, tables and paper surfaces while the reusable stencils and brush make cleanup easy; You can experiment with lotus elephant peacock patterns, create custom designs and enjoy an easy rangoli experience year after year
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