Explanations:The harvest festival of Maharashtra is known as Gudi Padwa. This festival is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month, according to the Hindu calendar, which typically falls in March or April. Gudi Padwa is a significant cultural event that marks the beginning of the new year and the harvest season in Maharashtra.
The term "Gudi Padwa" is derived from two words: "Gudi," which means flag, and "Padwa," which refers to the first day of the lunar month. On this day, people in Maharashtra celebrate by hoisting a gudi, a decorated flag, outside their homes. The gudi is typically made by tying a bright green or yellow silk cloth to the tip of a long bamboo pole, adorned with a brocade or silver or gold-colored kalash (pot) and decorated with flowers, mango and neem leaves, and a garland of red flowers.
The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. People clean and decorate their homes, wear new clothes, and prepare traditional sweets and dishes. The gudi is hoisted outside the main door of the house, and people offer prayers to it, seeking blessings for a prosperous and happy new year. The festival is also a time for family gatherings and socializing.
While other festivals like Makar Sankranti, Baisakhi, and Pongal are also harvest festivals, they are celebrated in different regions of India. Makar Sankranti is celebrated in many parts of India, particularly in the northern and western regions, and marks the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn. Baisakhi is a harvest festival celebrated in Punjab and other parts of North India, marking the beginning of the harvest season. Pongal is a four-day harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to the Sun God.
Therefore, Gudi Padwa is the correct answer as it is the specific harvest festival celebrated in Maharashtra, marking the beginning of the new year and the harvest season.