Ugadi is originally known as Yugadi. It is the beginning of a New Vedic Year for the followers of Chandramana Almanac – the lunar calendar. The great Mathematician Bhaskaracharya calculated that the new year begins from the sunrise of Yugadi festival.
Ugadi is a widely celebrated festival all over Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. In Maharashtra it is known as Gudipadava which is one of the main festivals of land. The first day of the Shukla paksha of Chaitra Masa is observed as Ugadi.
In the northern part of the country, devotees welcome New year with the blessings of Devi Durga by observing the Navaratri festival which culminates with Rama Navami. Devotees throng to the temples of Devi Durga and celebrate her glory during this time.
Brahma creates the universe on Ugadi
Lord Brahma is the creator of this universe. He created every living being, every species of life and every aspect of nature which is visible and invisible to one’s eyes. Lord Brahma began his creation on the auspicious day of Yugadi. From this day onwards he commenced the time itself.
Worship of Lord Vishnu on Ugadi
The Supreme Lord Narayana is worshiped prominently on the day of Yugadi. The Lord is known by unlimited names and one name of the Lord is Yugadikrita, meaning the one who created the Yugas. Kala or time is another form of the Lord. Every element of kala – Yuga, Samvatsara, Ayana, Paksha, Masa, Kshana, Nimisha is the expansion of Lord Narayana.
Households worship Lord Narayana on the day of Yugadi.
How to observe Ugadi Festival?
- Wake up early in the morning before the sunrise and take complete bath
- Decorate the house with toranas made of mango leaves. Neem leaves can also be used with mango leaves.
- Decorate the altar nicely with jasmine flowers and light the lamps.
- Prepare a dish called as Yugadi Pachadi which is made of neem flowers, tender mango leaves, raw mango, tamarind, chilli and jaggery. Perform naivedya to Lord Vishnu.
- Listen to the panchanga and predictions of the upcoming year, with family.
- Invite relatives and friends. Serve them Yugadi Pachadi prasadam.
Yugadi is the seasons of Mangoes
Mango is the favourite fruit of all. Who does not love it? Mangoes begin to ripe from Ugadi festival and are available for next two months only. Raw mangoes with tangy taste are available to put pickles, murabba, chutney and what not. We can’t just wait to relish mangoes.
Preparations like Mavinkai Tokku, Mavinkai Chitranna, Avakai, Mango Panna, Mango Sorba are available all throughout this season.
Similarly, Mallige or jasmine begins flowering abundantly during this period and are available all throughout the summer season. People use jasmine flowers in the worship, houses are decorated using and women adorn themselves with the fragrant jasmine flowers.
Panchanga Shravanam
In the early days people would gather in temples to hear the Panchangam of the complete year. Panchanga Shravanam throws light on the astrological predictions of the coming year for the country as well as the person.
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