Ugadi -Telugu New Year

All Hindu festivals have their own significance and importance. Hindu culture has a rich heritage, with numerous festivals. Each celebrated festival throughout the year has its own distinct value and ritual practice. Ugadi is celebrated in many states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Hindus take pride in celebrating festivals, because it is time for getting together as families. Ugadi like many other Hindu festivals believes in replacing vices with Virtues. This festival is celebrated to thank and celebrate the bounteous crop and also is a sign of the end of an old era and the beginning of a new one.

Significance of Ugadi

The name "Ugadi" came from Yuga + Aadi which means "Beginning of a New age. It is believed that the creator according to Hinduism, Lord Brahma started his work of creation on the Chaitra suddha padhyami(Ugadi). The onset of spring also in some way symbolically marks the beginning of new life. The new life seen in the fields and meadows, with colorful blossoms, also signify prosperity and well-being.

It is believed that Ugadi will be the next age of the Eternal World Drama Cycle, after the Kaliyuga. It is commonly believed that world drama cycle repeats every 5000 years with 1250 years for each yuga.

Ugadi is also regarded the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar with a change in the moon's orbit. On this day predictions are made for the New Year. The panchanga shravanam or listening to the yearly calendar is done traditionally at the temples. Preparations for the festival begin almost a week ahead. Houses are cleaned. Shopping to buy new clothes and other items add to a lot of excitement.

The Ugadi rituals

On Ugadi, people wake up before the break of dawn and have a head bath. The entrances of their house are decorated with fresh mango leaves. According to the legend, Kartik asked people to tie green mango leaves to the doorway. It signifies a good crop and general well being.

It is believed that, everyone has the right to get Peace, Prosperity, Health, Wealth and Happiness and this can be done through the festival of Ugadi. Everyone has to change him or herself by replacing the vices with good virtues with the help of Spiritual or Godly knowledge.

If one looks closely, mango leaves and coconuts are used to initiate any pooja or any other auspicious occasions to please gods. People splash fresh cow dung water in front of their houses and make good rangoli's. This is a common sight in front of every household. People perform puja to worship God. They invoke his blessings before they start anything in the New Year. They pray for their prosperity health and wealth.

Ugadi is considered as the most auspicious time to start new ventures. Some people make a mixture with mango pieces, jaggery and Neem flowers. Jaggery represents joy and happiness while and Neem flowers represent sorrow.