Ugadi Festival

Posted Date: 16-Mar-2010	Category: Festivals	Rating:
Author: Mala Ravi	Member Level: Gold	Points: 10 (Rs 10)

Ugadi is a South Indian Festival celebrated in major parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Even the Maharashtrians and the Sindhis also celebrate this festival. This is the New Year for them.

Significance of Yugadi

“Yugadi” comes from the words Yuga and Aadi where Yuga means era and Aadi means start. In Karnataka it is called as ‘Yugadi’. In Andhra Pradesh it is Ugadhi, and the Maharshtrians use the term Gudi Padwa.

This begins with the month of Chaitra (which comes in March/April) and ‘Yugadi’ festival marks the first day of the new year as per Saka Calendar.

Yugadi/Ugadi Festival Celebration

People start the day with ritual showers (oil bath) followed by prayers, decorate the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves. The significance of tying mango leaves relates to a legend. Mango leaves and coconuts are used to make “Kalasam” to initiate any pooja on such auspicious occasions to propitiate gods. People also splash fresh cow dung water on the ground in front of their house and draw colorful floral designs. This is a common sight in every household. They visit temples and pray for their health, wealth and prosperity and success in business too. Ugadi is also the most auspicious time to start new ventures.

Life is a combination of both joys and sorrows, hence to know the significance of this, people traditionally distribute

Neem Buds/Flowers for bitterness,
Raw Mango for tang
Tamarind Juice for sourness
Green Chilli/Pepper for heat
Jaggery and ripe banana pieces for sweetness
Pinch of Salt for saltiness.

They give a mixture of all these to know the significance of life.

In Karnataka, Kannadigas & Telugu people give mixtures of Neem Buds/Flowers for bitterness and Jaggery for sweetness. It is popularly called as “Bevu Bella”.

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