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Ugadi is the New Year celebration of Andhra Pradesh. It is celebrated on Chaitra Suddha Padhyamiand. The Ugadi celebration coincides with the New Year celebration of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa and Kerala.
Ugadi is a very important festival for the Hindus of the state as according to the Hindu scriptures it is the day when Lord Brahma created the universe. So, it is a very auspicious day for the Telugu people to start new ventures. The day of the celebration is decided by the Hindu lunar calendar. Normally, it falls between March or April. Ugadi declares the onset of spring in the region.
It is a common belief that the word Ugadi was derived from the word Yuga which means era or epoch and 'aadi' meaning 'the beginning'. The term Ugadi stands for the new beginning.
The celebration of Ugadi
Telugus, in general, are very religious people and all the rituals are strictly followed in Ugadi. However, the rituals followed during the event differ for the people living south of Vindhya hills from those living in the northern part of the same region. The sects living in the southern part of the hill call the event "Sauramana" or "Chandramana". They celebrate Ugadi during the full moon cycle of Chaitra.
The preparation for the day begins almost a week before the celebration. People clean their houses and make rangolis with colored powders or finely grounded rice powder. It is said to usher good luck for the family. Buntings of mango leaves and flowers are hung at the doors. People buy new clothes and utensils for the household as these are said to ensure year-long prosperity.
The celebration begins with the ritualistic early morning ‘oil bath’ with sesame oil. A thorough oil bath is an important part of Ugadi celebration. After the bath, people wear new clothes and a Panchanga Puja is performed. A copy of the Panchanga is placed on a stool and worshipped with turmeric, sandalwood paste and kumkum.
Deities are worshipped and people seek blessings for a healthy and prosperous New Year. People then gather at nearby temples or before their television sets to listen to the ‘Panchangasravanam’ or the yearly predictions. Youngsters seek the blessings from elders.
The special preparation named “Ugadi Pachadi" is consumed after this. The items used in the dish is said to represent the different emotions of one’s life such as -
- Neem buds signifies sadness.
- Jaggery and ripe banana represent happiness.
- Green chilly denotes anger.
- Salt represents fear.
- Tamarind stands for disgust.
- Unripe Mango denotes surprise.
Ugadi teaches one to welcome all the phases of life with open arms and deal with them in a positive way.
The celebration is marked by jubilation and merriment. Traditional dishes like Bobbatlu" and "Pulihora are prepared and savored. It is also a good day to meet and great people and wish for each other’s well being.
An important feature of the celebration is “Kavi Sammelanam” or poetry meets that take place in different parts of the state. These meets serve as platforms for budding poets to showcase their talents.
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