What is the procedure to celebrate the auspicious festival Ugadi ?
Ugadi’’ also called ‘Bhartiya Nav Varshor’ or ‘Vikram Samvat’ mean the starting of new age, according to the dictionary. It also means Hindi New Year as per the people of the Deccan. It is enjoyed every year on the first day of month ‘Chaitra’ of ‘Panchanga’ according to Hindu calendar.
People of Different states call the day differently. For example, in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, it is called ‘Yugadi’’ or ‘Ugadi’, in Maharashtra, it is called ‘Gudi Padwa’ and in Rajasthan, it is called ‘Thapna’. The ‘Sindhi’ people call it ‘Cheti Chand’ and the people of Indonesia and ‘Bali’ call it ‘Nyepi’.
The word ‘Ugadi’ is made up of two words ’ Yuga’ that mean era or epoch, whereas the word ‘Adi’ means beginning in the language Sanskrit. ‘Yugadi’ mainly stands for the start of the age that is living by us today called ‘Kali Yuga’. When Lord ‘Krishna’ left the world ‘Kal Yug’ started.
How is Ugadi celebrated?
People start preparing for the festival one week before the day. Preparations are done with lots of excitement and people do shopping of items that are required for the festival. They wake up early in the morning in the Brama Mahurat and take a bath and decorate the doors with mango leaves. Mango leaves are tied because of a famous story. According to an old legend, it is said that Lord Ganesha and Kartik were very fond of eating mangoes. Tie-in these leaves bring well being and good crop. People also make designs of cow dung and draw colorful designs of flower. They also pray God for wealth, health and success of family members.
It is a belief that Lord Brahma started the creation of the world on Ugadi day. According to Bhaskaracharya, the new day, new month and new year starts on Chaitra Suddha Padhyami. As this day comes after spring, the new leaves shoot and life come from plants. Jasmines start giving flowers during this time, which spreads sweet smell in the environment. Jasmines are offered to Gods in temples and homes.
What dishes are prepared on this day?
One of the famous dishes of this festival is ‘Ugadi Pachchadi’ which is a symbol of sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust and surprise. It is made up by mixing the following ingredients:-
- Flower by neem that is a symbol of sadness.
- Jaggery sweet that signifies happiness.
- Pepper made of green chili which is hot is taste symbolizes anger.
- Salt that signifies fear.
- Juice of Tamarind that taste sour is a symbol of Disgust.
- Raw mango that taste tang and shows surprise.
Many other dishes are also prepared like Bobbatlu and Pulihora with mango in Andhra Pradesh. Holige and Puliogure are made in Karnataka on this occasion. Sweet Roti and Puran Poli are very famous in Maharashtra on this occasion. A dish called Obbattu or Holige is also prepared in some places which consist of sugar, jiggery and gram stuffed in flat bread like roti. It is served cold or hot with milk and ghee topping at most places. Dishes like Oliga , Polelu , Bobbattu also called Bhakshalu and Polelu are made in Andra Pradesh.