Yugadi from yuga + aadi, yuga means era, aadi means start. is the New Year’s Day for the people of the Deccan region of India. While the people of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh use the term Yugadi/Ugadi for this festival. It falls on a different day every year because the Hindu calendar is a lunisolar calendar. The Saka calendar begins with the month of Chaitra (March–April) and Ugadi marks the first day of the new year. Chaitra is the first month in Panchanga which is the Indian calendar. The people of Maharashtra term the same festival, observed on the same day, Gudi Padwa. Sindhis, people from Sindh, celebrate the same day as their New Year day Cheti Chand. Manipuris also celebrate their New Year (Sajibu Cheiraoba) on the same day. While it is observed as Baisakhi in Punjab and Puthandu in Tamil Nadu. The Hindu New Year is not celebrated on the first of January. The Telugus, the Kannadigas and the Maratis celebrate Ugadi or their New Year around the same time of the year. The month of Chaitra heralds the beginning of the New Year. The Hindu calendar is based on the movement of the moon. They believe that Lord Brahma created the universe on this day. The New Year starts on the day after the new moon at the beginning of spring. Spring signifies the beginning of new life on earth. It is considered the first season when the earth springs to life. The affluence of nature signifies growth and prosperity. Thus, Ugadi is celebrated with a lot of colourful flowers. Temples and homes are brightly decorated. Besides offering prayers and wearing new clothes, people also follow a specific diet on Ugadi. The Ugadi “pachchadi” is made of neem flowers, raw mangoes and sugarcane. This dish denotes that life is made up of all flavours. There is bitter and sweet embedded in our lives, and we should accept it as such. The Telugus and the Kannadigas call this festival Ugadi. And it is known as Gudipadava in Maharashtra.
very interesting fact about the festival .. i do not think even the deccans know so much about it.. we should inculcate such teachings in our children to make them know the significance of everything happening around us in our lives. festivals should not be celebrated merely to wear good clothes and do heavy shopping.. we should respect our old cultural values on these very days.. ugadi is a festival of new hopes that the farmers have during the first spring..
