Ugadi, popularly known as Yugadi, is the Telugu and Kannada New Year ceremony and is celebrated with fervour and gaiety across the southern regions of India. People of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are believed to celebrate the beginning of a sixty year cycle, known as Samvatsara. All sixty Samvatsara are identified by their unique names. This year Ugadi will be celebrated on March 18 (Sunday) and is called “Vilambi”. In Maharashtra, people celebrate Ugadi as Gudi Padwa marking the same significance on the same day. The festival is celebrated on the first day of the month of Chaitra and marks the first of the calendar new year.
Ugadi 2018: Date and timings:
Telugu Samvatsara 2075 Begins
Pratipada Tithi Begins = 06:41 pm on March 17, 2018
Pratipada Tithi Ends = 06:31 pm on March 18, 2018
Significance
Ugadi means the beginning of a new age. It refers to the Kaliyuga age which we are living in now that began after the passing away of Lord Krishna. It is also the day when there is a change in the moon’s orbit. The festival marks the beginning of new year for people living between Vindhyas and Kaveri – river who follow the South Indian lunar calendar. It is extensively adhered to in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa. People come together to hear to the recital of the religious Panchangam almanac of new year. The recitation announces the forecast of the year to come. Called the ‘Panchanga Sravanam’, an informal function where an elderly and respected person will read the almanac.
Another most important ritual of Ugadi is preparing a special kind of “Pachadi’ (chutney) known as the Ugadi Pachadi or Shadruchulu. It is a must have item on the Ugadi menu. It is a tasty dish made with a lot of healthy ingredients. The Pachadi has six different tastes assimilated in it- sweet, salty, bitter, tangy, spicy and sour. All of these tastes represents the different facets of life.
How to make Ugadi Pachadi
Neem Flowers – Bitterness
The bitter taste of the Pachadi comes from the neem flowers. The bitter taste are the unhappy moments of life. Bitter moments are also a part of life and so it should not be forgotten.
Jaggery – Sweetness
The sweet taste comes from the jaggery. The sweet taste are the happy moments of life.
Raw Mango – Tangy
The tangy taste of the Pachadi is from the unripe mango. Ugadi marks the beginning of the mango season. Hence mango represents the surprise element of our life and that a person should always be prepared for it.
Red Chilli – Spice
The spicy taste comes from the red chilli powder. It represents the angry moments in life.
Salt – Salty
The salt represents the taste of life. The salty moments are necessary to make our lives interesting.
Tamarind – Sour
Tamarind adds the sour taste to the Pachadi. It represents the sour moments of life which along with other flavours make our lives worth living.
