The Vibrant Festival of Ugadi

India is a land of diversity, and that shows in its numerous festivals being celebrated all over the country. Each and every festival is celebrated with great pomp and splendour. Due to this diversity itself, the same festival is known in different ways in different parts of the country. One such colorful and beautiful is ‘Ugadi’ or ‘Yugadi’ which is celebrated in the Southern parts of India that marks the beginning of the New Year. It is a Sanskrit word – ‘Yug’ meaning Era and ‘Adi’ means start, Meaning, the start of a new era.

In Different parts of India

Ugadi is known by different names all over India. In Andhra and Karnataka, it is known as Ugadi itself, In Maharashtra, it is known as Gudi Padwa. In Rajasthan it is known as Thapna, in Manipur, it is known as Sajibu Nongma Panba/Meetei Cheiraoba, in Tamil Nadu it is known as Puthandu, In Punjab, it is known as Baisakhi, In Kerela, it is known as Vishu and so on.

How people make preparations for it

Every festival brings with it its own preparations for the celebrations. For Ugadi too, such preparations take place. The house gets decorated with mango leaves, which is a mark of auspiciousness and festivity and the making of Rangoli takes place.

Not only the people are residing in India, but the Indians who are living abroad are also keeping the festive mood alive and celebrating Ugadi with the same gusto. People gather around in communities, celebrate together by organizing cultural programs and relieve their culture. The most famous or one can say, tastiest part of Ugadi is the Ugadi Pachadi (Chutney) which is the mark of the festival. The festival is incomplete without it.

This pachadi has all the flavors of the spring season within it and is offered to God, and is taken as prasadam. Do you know what all goes into making the ultimate ugadi Pachadi?

It has all the flavors that are a part of the taste and also a part of everyone’s life:

• Sweet- Jaggery/Banana signifies happiness
• Sour- Tamarind signifies disgust
• Tangy- Mango signifies surprise
• Bitter- Neem Flower signifies sadness
• Spice- Green chilli/Red Chilli and signifies anger
• Salty- Salt signifies fear.

Significance of Ugadi

Ugadi has such a great significance as it marks the beginning of the spring season, which brings a new life with itself. Everything is new and fresh. Due to all such amazing new beginnings, Ugadi brings a very special thing with it- The Ugadi Pachadi, which is the heart of the festival. Other than this, mythologically, it is believed that Lord Brahma, the God of Creation started the creation of Earth on this day, and this is why it’s so auspicious. It is also believed to be the starting of the Kalyuga, the era we are living in.

Learn how to prepare Ugadi Pachadi at Home

Ugadi in the following years