Gudi Padwa 2026 Date: Is it on March 19 or March 20? Check correct date, tithi and significance of Marathi New Year

The festival of Gudi Padwa marks the Marathi New Year and is widely celebrated in the Indian state of Maharashtra and among the Konkani community. As the festival approaches, many people are asking an important question: Is Gudi Padwa in 2026 on March 19 or March 20?

According to the Hindu luni-solar calendar, the correct date for Gudi Padwa 2026 falls on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

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Gudi Padwa 2026 Date and Tithi Timing

The celebration of Gudi Padwa is based on the Pratipada Tithi of the Chaitra month.

For Gudi Padwa 2026, the timings are:

• Pratipada Tithi Begins: 06:52 AM on March 19, 2026
• Pratipada Tithi Ends: 04:52 AM on March 20, 2026

Since the Pratipada Tithi begins after sunrise on March 19, the festival will be observed on March 19, 2026.

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Gudi Padwa 2026: Significance of the Marathi New Year

Gudi Padwa marks the beginning of the Marathi Shaka Samvat year 1948. It symbolises new beginnings, prosperity and the arrival of spring.

The word “Samvatsara” refers to a cycle of sixty years, and each year in this cycle carries a unique name in the traditional calendar.

People celebrate the day by raising a Gudi (a decorated flag with a pot placed on top) outside their homes. The Gudi symbolises victory, prosperity and good fortune.

Gudi Padwa 2026 and Ugadi: Why the Festivals Are Celebrated on the Same Day

Interestingly, Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the same day as Ugadi, which marks the New Year for people in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Both festivals are based on the same Chaitra Shukla Pratipada date in the Hindu calendar, which explains why they fall on the same day every year.

Gudi Padwa 2026 Rituals and Traditions
Traditional celebrations of Gudi Padwa begin early in the morning with:

• A ritual oil bath
• Decorating homes and entrances
• Raising the Gudi outside the house
• Eating neem leaves mixed with jaggery, symbolising the balance of life’s bitter and sweet moments

Families also prepare festive foods and visit temples to offer prayers for a prosperous year ahead.

Gudi Padwa 2026 and Other Hindu New Year Festivals in India

While Gudi Padwa marks the New Year in Maharashtra, different regions of India celebrate the start of the year in various ways according to their traditional calendars.

Some similar festivals include:

• Puthandu in Tamil Nadu
• Bihu in Assam
• Vaisakhi in Punjab
• Pana Sankranti in Odisha
• Naba Barsha in West Bengal

These celebrations highlight the diverse cultural traditions across India while sharing the common theme of welcoming a new year and a fresh beginning.