Ugadi 2020
When is Ugadi in 2020?
According to Hindu Calendar, it falls in the month of Chaitra i.e. in March. In 2020, it will celebrated on 25 March 2020.
The term Yugadi or Ugadi is derived from the sanskrit words – ‘Yug‘ and ‘Adi‘ which means ‘age‘ and ‘starting‘ respectively. So, it meant the beginning of new age. It is celebrated as new year in various parts of India like Goa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu but is mainly celebrated by Telugu and Kannada communities of India. It is celebrated as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra.
Rituals for the day
In India, every festival has its own rituals and traditions to be followed. Similarly, Ugadi also has many rituals that are followed. It is believed that as per the rituals of Ugadi, the preparations for the festival begins two days prior to the original day of Ugadi celebrations. The excitement is somehow similar to the celebrations of the New Year celebrations, as it is the day of rejoice and beginning of new era.
Each and every corner of the house are cleaned. When the morning of the Ugadi day starts, everyone wakes up and takes an oil bath. After the bath, people decorate their home by making Rangolis, hanging mango leaves. Then the devotees visit the nearest temple and offer prayers and chant Mantras, so that the upcoming year brings good luck and blessings of the Almighty. After the Puja is done, Pandits recite the yearly horoscope or the forecast for the upcoming year. This tradition of reciting the yearly horoscope is called ‘Panchanga Sravanam’.
Celebration across India
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
The state of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the South India celebrates New Year as Ugadi or Yugadi. As per beliefs, it is the only day when Lord Brahma created the seven worlds and it is a new beginning for one and all. It is considered very auspicious to get the yearly predictions read out on this day. Along with this, homes are cleaned, Rangolis are made, new clothes are worn and sweets are exchanged with friends and family to welcome the Hindu New Year. It is believed that hanging the mango leaves on the entrance of the main door is also auspicious. A special sweet called Obbattu or Holige is prepared on this special day.
Maharashtra Celebrates Gudi Padwa
The day of Hindu New Year is celebrated as Gudi Padwa in the state of Maharashtra and Goa. A Gudi (bamboo stick) wrapped with a silk cloth is erected and a copper bowl is placed on the top of it. It is then decorated with flowers, neem leaves, mango leaves, turmeric and vermilion. On this day, a special dish made out of mango is prepared. Other dishes prepared on this day are Puran Poli and Shrikhand, to name just a few. The day begins with a visit to Lord Ganesha temple, as it is considered very auspicious to start anything new with the blessings of Lord Ganesh.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu
While the New Year is celebrated as Vishu in Kerala, it is celebrated as Puthandu Dhinam or Varusha Pirappu in Tamil Nadu. The day begins with wearing new clothes, making Rangolis and performing Puja to the Gods. One of the rituals followed in the Malayalam community is the ‘Vishukkani’, which means the first thing you see on the day of Vishu. It is believed that, if the first sight is an auspicious one, the whole year will turn out to be good. Also, a collection of fruits and vegetables known as Vishu Kani is brought in for Puja.
Kashmir Celebrates Navreh
The New Year day is celebrated as Navreh in Kashmir. Navreh means New Year. And as per rituals, a plate filled with rice, curd, walnuts, pen, coins and jantri is placed in the middle of the house the previous night to New Year. The next day (on Navreh), Puja’s begin with the placing of this plate.
As every festival has special dishes to be made for the day, there is a special dish that is to be made on the occasion of Ugadi, namely Ugadi Pachadi in Telugu language.
The dish made on this day is the first one to be taken on this day as a food.
The ingredients that are mixed in this dish indicate the tastes of life. Following are the ingredients and their relation to the phases of life:
Neem: They indicate sadness of life, as they are bitter in taste.
Salt: It indicates the salty moments of life.
Jaggery: It indicates sweet and happy moments of life.
Chilli or pepper: It indicates temperament and aggressive face of life.
Unripened mango: It indicates tanginess in life.
Tamarind: It indicates the sourness of life.
