The festivities
It is a day of great festivity and rejoicing. People get up early and clean their houses,
decorating them with intricate rangoli designs. New clothes are worn, and sweets made for
the occasion include shrikhand, basundi, jalebis etc. Many homes also decorate the pots with
coconuts, flowers and mango leaves, symbolizing nature's bounty to all.
On this day, gudis are hung outside the houses or in the localities. A 'gudi' is a pole on
the top of which an upturned brass or silver pot called a kalash is placed. The gudi is covered
with a colourful silk cloth and decorated with marigold flowers, coconuts, and mango leaves that
symbolize nature's bounty. Gudi is worshipped by offering sandalwood paste, turmeric and vermilion.
Then, boys and young men of the locality form a pyramid and the person on top of the pyramid breaks
the coconut which is in the kalash.
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