Ugadi – New year Day
Ugadi is a New year day festival celebrated by Telugu and Kanada peoples located in states of Andrapradesh, Karnataka, Telangana in India. Ugadi falls in the month of March in this year which was first day of Chitra month. It is considered as arrival of spring season. People believed that Spring season is joy which brings happiness, wealth and prosperity to life.
Different Names of Ugadi
In many places this new year day is celebrated in different names. In Maharastra people call it as “Gudi padwa” Manipuri people call it as “Sajibu Nongma Pānba”, Sindh people celebrate this as “Cheti Chand” Karnata people use “Ugadi” to describe the event. In Ugadi name “Uga” means “age” and “adi” means “begginning” which is new year beginning. This day is calculated based on the position of Earth and Sun. The spring equinox which is having equal day and equal night over the earth due to Sun crossing found on Earth Equator line. The day after first new moon of Spring Eqinox is celebrated as Ugadi.
Legacy Behind the Ugadi day
Ugadi day is associated with Lord Brahma who is creator God of Universe. On Ugadi day Lord Brahma starts new accounts for creatures found in the world. Following this Lord Vishnu protects the world and destruction happens from Lord Shiva. The destruction of Lord Shiva gives new way to the creation of Lord Brahma which is cyclic nature of Universe. People should worship these gods to get blessings to commence new year.
Ugadi day is remarkable day of Lord Rama devotees. The legacy tells Lord Rama who was incarnation of Lord Vishnu was born to King Dasratha and Queen Kowsalya in Ayyodhi Kingdom. He grown up with well versed knowledge and discipline. At the time of getting throne, conspiracy of Queen Kaikeyi made Lord Rama to go forest by sacrificing his throne to his brother Bharatha. So Lord Rama spend his fourteen years in forest with his consort Goddess Sita and his brother Prince Lakshmanan. In this mean time Goddess Sita captured by demon Ravana who was king of Srilanka. So Lord Rama battle with demon Ravana and got back Goddess Sita with having Supports from Lord Anjaneya, King Sukrivan. After he completed his forest life (vanvas) he returned back to his kingdom on this Ugadi day is significantly celebrated by Lord Vishnu devotees.
Preparations on Ugadi day
People used to have oil bath, wearing new dresses and get blessings from elders to start the new year day.
Peoples spreading turmeric paste or cow dung paste which has purification property on the floors of their houses to keep clean to start new year.
Peoples used to draw the paintings of Rangoli filled with colors, filled with flowers fascinate the floor of their house on new year day celebration.
Peoples use decorative garlands made from Coconut tree leaves, Mango tree leaves which has ability to purify the breathing air to decorate their doors on this auspicious day.
Celebrations on Ugadi day
People invite their friends, family members to their homes and share their happiness, thoughts with each other.
Peoples used to exchange gift cards, gift wishes, gift articles to the family members, neighbors, friends to express their happy wishes to get new successful year ahead.
People used to participate in pujas, homas, temple worship to get blessings of wealth and prosperity new upcoming year.
People used to take promises on this New year day which was to keep on this full year to make positive changes in life.
Peoples gathered to read the “Panchangam” to forecast the New year. Peoples shall plan their works according to astrological effects of upcoming year.
Peoples engaged themselves in preparing cuisines to make day delightful and share it to their family members, neighbors, friends to make them happy.
Ugadi Pachidi
A famous dish called “Ugadi Pachidi” is prepared on this day which expresses emotions of life.
Ugadi pachidi ingredients
Jaggery- Sweet taste indicates happiness of life
Raw Mango – Acidic taste indicates surprise comes in life
Tamarind- Sour taste indicates shocking or ugly part of life
Red Chilly flakes- Spicy hot taste indicates anger
Salt- Salty taste indicates fear moments
Neem leaves- Bitter taste indicates sorrows of life.
In this dish all the ingredients are mixed and collectively give a delicious flavor of Ugadi Pachidi. Likewise life is also filled with all emotions of joy, sorrow, fear, ugly, anger, surprise. So we could stay common in all phases of life and lead the life by facing lot of happiness as well as challenges by more sprits and hope.
