Sunday, March 30, 2014

Happy Ugadi Festival 2014 !!




Ugadi is observed as the New Year of SouthIndians (in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka ) marking the new blossoms and the coming of the harvest. It is the first festival of the telugu calender.

'Jaya" is the name of the new telugu year which starts from 31st March 2014.


Ugadi is the New Year's Day for the people of Andhra Pradesh and also for the Telugu people all over the world. Those who live north of the Vindhya hills observe it as "Barhaspatyamana". People living to the south of the Vindhya hills observe it as "Sauramana" or "Chandramana".


According to Chandramana, Ugadi is celebrated on the bright fortnight ('Shukla Paksha') of the first month ('Chaitra Masa') in the first season of the year i.e. Spring ('Vasanta-Ritu'). As all these important elements are present, this day has special significance marking the commencement of a New Year.

Significance:

It is believed that the creator of the Hindu pantheon Lord Brahma started creation on this day - "Chaitra Suddha Padhyami" or the Ugadi day. Also the calculations of the great Indian Mathematician Bhaskaracharya proclaim the Ugadi day as the beginning of the New Year, New month and New day. The onset of spring also marks a beginning of new life with plants acquiring new life, shoots and leaves. The vibrancy of life and verdant fields, meadows full of colourful blossoms signify growth, prosperity and well-being.

With the coming of Ugadi, the naturally perfumed Jasmine's spread a sweet fragrance, which is perhaps unmatched by any other in nature's own creation. While large garlands of Jasmine are offered to Gods in homes and temples, Jasmine flowers woven in clusters adorn the braids of women.

Predictions Of The Year:

Ugadi marks the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar with a change in the moon's orbit. On this day, people chant mantras and the pundits make predictions for the coming year. Traditionally, the "Panchangasravanam" or listening to the yearly calendar was done at the temples or at the Town square but with the onset of modern technology, one can get to hear the priest-scholar on television sets right in one's living room.

Preparing For The Occasion:

Preparations for the festival begin a week ahead. Houses are given a thorough wash. Shopping for new clothes and buying other items that go with the requirements of the festival are done with a lot of excitement.
Ugadi is celebrated with festive fervour in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. While it is called Ugadi in Andhara and Karnataka, in Maharashtra it is known as "Gudipadava".

On Ugadi day, people wake up before the break of dawn and take a head bath after, which they decorate, the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves. The green mango leaves tied to the doorway signify a good crop and general well being. It is noteworthy that one uses mango leaves and coconuts (as in a 'Kalasam', to initiate any puja) only on auspicious occasions to propitiate gods.

People also splash fresh cow dung water on the ground in front of their house and draw colourful floral designs. This is a common sight in every household. People perform the ritualistic worship to God invoking his blessings before they start off with the New Year. They pray for their health, wealth and prosperity and success in business too. Ugadi is also the most auspicious time to start new ventures.


Every year on 'chaitrasuddha padyami' we celebrate the beginning of our new year. Things that should be done on this day:

Get up early (before dawn ) and take a bath using sesame oil, and bathing powder (the traditional way), get ready with new cloths. Next recite to the Lord Surya our New year resolutions and while offering flowers, holy water, light, insence. After that we savour the 'Vepaputa pachadi' (neemflower concoction). "Nimbhakusumabhakshanam" means...


"Sataayu rvajradaehaayuh sarva sampatkaraaya cha

sarvaarishTa vinaaSaaya, nimBha kusuma bhakshaNam"

this neem flower concoction has tamarind syrup, the flower of mangoes, the flowers of Asoka tree as a few of its many ingredients.

"tvaamashThaSoaka naraabheeshTa! madhumaasa samudbhava!

nibaavi Soakasamtaptaam maamaSoakam sadaa kuru"

which means...

In my life suffering with sorrow i am a bit of the 'asoka'! I serve thee. In the bloom of full spring you blossom oh 'asoka'! You make me free of sorrow!

The tree of asoka has such divine stength.


Special Delicacies:

It is a season for raw mangoes spreading its aroma in the air and the fully blossomed Neem tree that makes the air healthy. Also, jaggery made with fresh crop of sugarcane adds a renewed flavour to the typical dishes associated with Ugadi.

"Ugadi Pachchadi" is one such dish that has become synonymous with Ugadi. It is made of new jaggery, raw mango pieces, Neem flowers and new tamarind. The inner significance of this preparation is to indicate that life is a mixture of good and bad, joy and sorrow and all of them have to be treated alike.

All experiences have to be treated with equanimity. Every one should make a resolve that he will face calmly whatever happens in this year, accepting it with good grace and welcoming everything. Consider everything as for one's own good. Men should rise above sorrow and happiness, success and failure. This is the primary message of the Ugadi festival.

In Andhra Pradesh, eatables such as "Pulihora", "Bobbatlu" and preparations made with raw mango go well with the occasion. In Karnataka too, similar preparations are made but called "Puliogure" and "Holige". The Maharashtrians make "Puran Poli" or sweet 'Rotis'.

Kavi Sammelanam:

Kavi Sammelanam or poetry recitation is a typical Telugu Ugadi feature. Ugadi is also a time when people look forward to a literary feast in the form of Kavi Sammelanam. Many poets come up with new poems written on subjects ranging from Ugadi to politics to modern trends and lifestyles.

When we hear the 'Panchamga sravanam' (foretelling of the year to come) because of 'tidi' we learn about wealth, 'vaaramu' (week) tells us about life, 'nakshatramu' (star) gives us deliverence from sins, 'yogamu' helps us in eradicating disease, 'karanam' tells us about good omens. Hearing the 'Pancamga sravanam' would give us blessings equal to that of offering land, gold, cattle, grain, virgin(like marriage). Hearing the fortunes of great ones would also give us health, wealth and life has many best returns.

Ugadi Kavi Sammelanam is also a launch pad for new and budding poets. It is generally carried live on All India Radio, Hyderabad and the Doordarshan - Hyderabad, following "Panchangasravanam" (New year calendar) narrating the way the New Year would shape up in the lives of people and the state in general. 'Kavis' or poets of many hues - political, comic, satirical reformist, literary and melancholic make an appearance on the Ugadi stage.

Ugadi is thus a festival of many shades. It ushers in the New Year, brings a rich bounce of flora and fills the hearts of people with joy and contentment.