Ugadi festival - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Ugadi is a traditional New Year festival celebrated by the people of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
- 2. The word "Ugadi" is derived from the Sanskrit words "Yuga" meaning age and "Adi" meaning beginning, signifying the beginning of a new age or era.
- 3. Ugadi falls on the first day of the Chaitra month in the Hindu calendar, which usually falls in March or April according to the Gregorian calendar.
- 4. The festival is celebrated with various rituals and customs, including decorating homes with mango leaves and flowers, preparing traditional dishes like Ugadi Pachadi, a special dish made with six tastes – sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy, and astringent.
- 5. People wake up early on Ugadi day, take a ritualistic oil bath, wear new clothes, and visit temples to seek blessings for the new year.
- 6. The festival is also marked by cultural events, traditional performances, and community gatherings where people come together to celebrate and exchange greetings and gifts.
- 7. Ugadi is considered an auspicious time for starting new ventures, buying new assets, and seeking blessings for a prosperous year ahead.
- 8. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, people also follow the tradition of predicting the year ahead by reading the Panchangam, an almanac that forecasts the astrological predictions for the upcoming year.
- 9. In Karnataka, the festival is known as "Yugadi" and is celebrated with the preparation of a special dish called "Obbattu" or "Holige," which is a sweet flatbread made with jaggery and lentils.
- 10. Ugadi is a time for reflection, renewal, and rejuvenation, symbolizing the cycle of life and the importance of embracing change and new beginnings. It is a time to let go of the past and look forward to a brighter future.