Gudi Padwa is a spring festival celebrated in the Indian state of Maharashtra and several other parts of India. It marks the beginning of the traditional Hindu new year and is usually celebrated in March or April, depending on the Hindu lunar calendar. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and is usually marked by the hoisting of a 'gudi' or a bamboo stick, which is decorated with colorful fabrics and flowers, and placed outside homes. It is believed that the gudi symbolizes victory and good fortune. On this day, people also decorate their homes with rangolis, prepare special dishes like puran poli, and exchange sweets and gifts with family and friends. It is a time for new beginnings and the start of a new agricultural cycle. Gudi Padwa is not only celebrated in Maharashtra but also in other parts of India like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, where it is known as Ugadi.