Gudhi Padwa (Marathi: गुढी पाडवा, often mis-pronounced as guDi padwa because ढी sounds like डी when spoken), is the Marathi name for Chaitra Shukla Pratipada.[1] It is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month to mark the beginning of the New year according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar. This day is also the first day of Chaitra Navratri and Ghatasthapana also known as Kalash Sthapana is done on this day.[2]
The word पाडवा(pāḍavā) or पाडवो(pāḍavo) comes from the Prakrit word पड्ड्वा/पाड्ड्वो(pāḍḍavā/pāḍḍavo) whose Sanskrit equivalent is प्रथमा (prathamā), which stands for the first day of the bright phase of the moon called प्रतिपदा (pratipadā) in Sanskrit.
(... from Wikipedia on 2012-04-17 22:00:57)