Ugadi festival is the commemoration of the coming of the New Year. It is celebrated every year as it marks the beginning of the Hindi Lunar calendar. Moreover, it brings along happiness, aspirations, and hope. The belief is that this day and its liveliness would foreshadow the course of events for the upcoming year.
The people of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka rejoice in the coming of the New Year in many different ways. On the day of the festival, people wear new clothes and an abundance of some mouth-watering traditional cuisines are cooked. The festoons of mango (Torana) are tied to the doors and the houses are decorated with fresh flowers. There is a special ‘Chutney’ called ‘Ugadi pachadi’ that is cooked during the Ugadi festival and is kept in an earthen pot before the idol of the house. Thereafter, puja is performed and everyone takes the share of the chutney and goes for feasts and meals together.
Ugadi Festival 2024 Date
The Ugadi Festival will be celebrated on 9th April 2024. It generally falls sometime during March or April every year.
The Term ‘Ugadi’
Ugadi means ‘the beginning of a new period or new age’. It is derived from the Sanskrit word Yugadi, which further is a mix of two words, ‘Yuga’ meaning age/period and ‘Adi’ meaning beginning.
The Story of Ugadi
According to a legend, Lord Brahma began the creation of the Universe on this day. That is the reason he is known as the ‘creator god’ in Hinduism. Many people also believe that Brahma further created days, weeks, months, and years to keep track of time. Therefore, Ugadi day is said to be the first day of the universe’s creation.
What is the significance of the Ugadi festival?
Ugadi festival has been a traditional festival for Hindus. There are a lot of medieval documents and texts that have recorded major charitable donations to Hindu temples and societies on this day. Therefore, Ugadi day is observed as a New Year in many parts of India.
This festival not only has one but different kinds of significance, which makes it even more special.
1. Spiritual Significance of Ugadi – Because of people’s faith that Brahma created the universe on this day, Ugadi is celebrated to honor his doings. The creator of the Yugas or ages, Yugadi Krit (one of the names of Hindu God Vishnu) is worshipped as well.
2. Astronomical Significance of Ugadi – According to the lunisolar calendar, Ugadi is the day when the new astronomical cycle starts to move. That means the tilt of the earth allows the northern hemisphere to receive massive sunlight for 21 days. It is the time when the ‘blue planet’ starts recharging itself with the Sun’s energy.
3. Ugadi Significance in Nature – Ugadi marks the day of Mother Nature’s regeneration. With spring approaching, new plants and leaves start to grow covering the earth with greenery. Moreover, the spring festival of Vasanta Navratri is celebrated, starting from Ugadi day and continues for nine days till Ram Navami.
4. Historical Significance of Ugadi – It is said that Lord Krishna’s Nirvana started in the early hours of Chaitra that corresponds to 18th February 3102 BC. This day also marks the beginning of the Kaliyug. Therefore, Ugadi is believed to be the onset of Kaliyuga.
Ugadi: The Festival
The day of Ugadi is marked by enthusiasm and cheerfulness. The celebrations of Ugadi begin as people wake up early to take a ceremonial oil-bath. The idols of gods and goddesses are also bathed in oil on this day. The spirit of Ugadi is evident through beautifully decorated homes, temples, and shops with flowers and mango leaves. Rangolis are made in the front of homes to welcome positive energy.
People gather to offer prayer to the Sun God before consuming Bevu Bella or Ugadi Pachadi, a dish celebrating the six flavors of life. Temples are visited to make offerings and also to seek blessings from the Almighty and start the new year on a happy note. Further, Panchanga Sravanam is read by the priests at the temple or by the eldest family member at home.
On Ugadi day, based on the moon sign, annual forecasts for the New Year are also made by the learned pandits and astrologers. Apart from this, the special dishes made at Ugadi Festival are enjoyed by families, and sweets are exchanged with friends and neighbors.
Ugadi Festival is considered an auspicious day, therefore, people start their new homes constructions, undertake new businesses, make vital purchases, and also sign important deals on this day.
Importance of Ugadi Pachadi
Also known as Bevu Bella, Ugadi Pachadi is a special dish made on this day, which symbolizes the essence of life. Here the ingredients used to make this dish and what it symbolizes –
- Jaggery (sweet) – happiness
- Salt (salty) – interest in life
- Tamarind (sour) – challenges
- Neem flowers (bitter) – difficulties in life
- Raw mango (tangy) – surprises and new challenges
- Chilli powder (spicy) – angry moments in one’s life
It is an important part of the Ugadi Festival as it represents all tastes of life. Besides, it teaches us that life is a mix of all emotions. Each ritual on Ugadi Festival is followed with much significance like the hanging of mango leaves and placing ‘Kalash’ near the door. Thus, Ugadi is celebrated with much vigor in different states of India as a festival of prosperity, growth, happiness, and well-being.
