Happy Ugadi and Gudi Padwa – Happy Hindu New Year

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!

Happy Ugadi to Telugus around the world

Ugadi is the New Year’s festival for people originated from Andhra Pradesh and also for Telugu Hindus all over the world. Those who live north of the Vindhya hills observe it as Barhaspatyaman. Residents south of the Vindhya hills observe it as Sauraman or Chandraman.

According to Chandraman, Ugadi is celebrated on the bright fortnight (‘Shukla Paksha’) of the first month (‘Chaitra Masa’) in the first season of the year i.e. Spring (‘Vasanta-Ritu’). As all these important elements are present, this day has special significance marking the commencement of a New Year.

It is believed that Lord Brahma started creation on this day – “Chaitra Suddha Padhyami” or the Ugadi day. Also the calculations of the great Indian Mathematician Bhaskaracharya proclaim the Ugadi day as the beginning of the New Year, New month and New day. The onset of spring also marks a beginning of new life with plants acquiring new life, shoots and leaves. The vibrancy of life and verdant fields, meadows full of colourful blossoms signify growth, prosperity and well-being.

With the coming of Ugadi, the naturally perfumed jasmines (mallepulu) spread a sweet fragrance which is perhaps unmatched by any other in nature’s own creation! While large garlands of jasmine are offered to Gods in homes and temples, jasmine flowers woven in clusters adorn the braids of women.

Ugadi is celebrated with festive fervor in a few Indian states outside AP, which are mainly Maharashtra and Karnataka. In Karnataka and Maharashtra, Ugadi is also known as Gudipadava. On Ugadi, people wake up before the break of dawn and take a head bath after which they decorate the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves. The significance of tying mango leaves relates to a legend. It is said that Kartik (or Subramanya or Kumara Swamy) and Ganesha, the two sons of Lord Siva and Parvathi were very fond of mangoes. As the legend goes Kartik exhorted people to tie green mango leaves to the doorway signifying a good crop and general well-being.

“Ugadi Pachchadi” is one such food recipe that has become synonymous with Ugadi. It is made of new jaggery, raw mango pieces, Neem flowers and new tamarind. The inner significance of this preparation is to indicate that life is a mixture of good and bad, joy and sorrow and all of them have to be treated alike.

In Andhra Pradesh, eatables such as “Pulihora”, “Bobbatlu” and preparations made with raw mango go well with the occasion. In Karnataka too, similar preparations are made but called “Puliogure” and “Holige”. The Maharashtrians make “Puran Poli” or sweet ‘Rotis’.

The Chakra team would like to wish all Andra Pradesh residents and the Telugus around the world blessings and greetings for Ugadi and Happy Telugu New Year.