Happy Ugadi and Gudi Padwa – Telugu & Marati New Year – March 2014

Ugadi is the new year celebration for the Telugu / Deccan region in India. It is celebrated by the Telugu diaspora all around the world, but remains the most population in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. Maratis also celebrate Ugadi, but under the name Gudi Padwa. The name Ugadi is from the Sanskrit language and means ‘Beginning of a new age’, representing the coming new year.

Ugadi is celebrated with many activities, festive food and strong enthusiasm. The day of Ugadi starts with holy showers and Hindu prayers. Prayers recited  on Ugadi mainly consists of the Hindu prayer Panchanga Sravanam. Eating specific meals on Ugadi have significant symbolism, mainly ‘Ugadi Pachhadi’ which is the mixture of 6 certain tastes. This mix of tastes includes bitter need buds & flowers symbolizing sadness, sweet ripe bananas  symbolizing happiness, hot green peppers symbolizing anger, salt symbolizing fear, sour tamarind juice symbolizing disgust, tangy non-ripe mango symbolizing surprise.

Gudi Padwa, also known as Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is celebrated as the Marati new year and is the 1st day of Chaitra month to mark the start of the hindu calendar new year.  Gudi Padwa is mainly celebrated in the Indian state of Maharashtra. According to Hindu scriptures, this day is when Lord Brahma created the world after the deluge and thus time began to tick onward.  

Hindus celebrate Gudi Padwa by designing rangoli designs on their main house entrances with bright colours to symbolize the start of the spring season. People try to dress in new pairs of clothing and celebrate with extending family and relatives. Although food traditions vary culture to culture, Gudi Padwa has similar food taste symbolism as Ugadi and begin the Gudi Padwa festival by eating the bitter neem buds and flowers.

The Chakra team wishes all Indians, Hindus, Maratis and Telugus a happy Ugadi and Gudi Padwa. Navaratri also begins on March 31st 2014 so we wish all Hindus and Indians blessings on this Navaratri. Jai Mata Di!