Ugadi 2024: The festival of Ugadi will be celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on April 9. Ugadi marks the beginning of the Telugu New Year. In Karnataka, the New Year will also be celebrated the same day and the Kannada New Year is celebrated as Yugadi.
The day is also observed as Gudi Padwa by Marathis and the Konkani Hindus. The day marks the start of the harvest season for rabi crops.
According to Drikpanchang, Ugadi will be celebrated on April 9 this year. The Pratipada Tithi starts at 11:50 PM on April 8, 2024, and ends at 8:30 PM on April 9, 2024.
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Ugadi is a special celebration for people in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana states in India. The word Ugadi comes from Sanskrit and means the start of a new age. It's celebrated on the first day of the Hindu calendar month called Chaitra, which usually falls in March or April.
According to tradition, it's believed that Lord Brahma began creating the Earth's elements on this day. People get ready for Ugadi almost a week earlier by cleaning their homes and buying new clothes and gifts for their family. They start their day with a special bath, followed by an oil treatment, and then go to the temple to pray for good health and prosperity in the new year.
A special dish called pachadi is made and enjoyed in every home. Pachadi includes sweet, salty, bitter, and sour flavors, symbolizing that life brings various experiences. Ugadi is also seen as an auspicious day to start new ventures like businesses, buying homes, or vehicles. The festival's message is about embracing all experiences in life¡ªhappiness, sadness, failure, and success¡ªand making the most of them.
The word Ugadi or Yugadi has been derived from the Sanskrit words Yuga (Age or period) and Adhi (beginning). So, Ugadi refers to the beginning of a new year.
An interesting fact related to Ugadi is that the country of Mauritius, which has a sizable Hindu population, treats the day as a public holiday.
Here's a list of customs and traditions observed during the Ugadi festival:
1. People draw beautiful rangoli designs called kolamulus on the floor and decorate their doors with mango leaves, known as toranalu.
2. Tying mango leaves on doors is believed to bring general well-being and a good crop, as Kartik and Ganesha, sons of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, loved mangoes.
3. Idols of Gods and Goddesses are cleaned with oil on Ugadi.
4. People exchange gifts such as new clothes, sweets, and jewelry as tokens of love and care.
5. Offering charity to the poor and needy is a significant tradition during the Ugadi festival.
6. People gather to hear the recitation of the religious Panchangam of the New Year and the forecast for the coming year, known as Panchanga Sravanam.
7. A beneficial juice is prepared by mixing neem flowers, jaggery water, and mango scraps, consumed on an empty stomach after the pujas.
8. Special dishes and sweets like Bobbatu, Atukulu Payasam, Pulihora, Nimmakaya Annam, and Rava Pulihora are prepared and enjoyed by family members.
9. Street processions, traditional dance performances, and flag-waving are part of the festivities on Ugadi.
Welcome to a celebration of diverse cultures and traditions! As we embrace the dawn of new beginnings, we extend heartfelt wishes to our Sikh, Tamil, Bengali, Odia, Malayalam, and Tripura friends on their respective New Year festivities. In this tapestry of joy and unity, we rejoice in the richness of our cultural heritage. May this auspicious time bring boundless happiness, prosperity, and peace to each heart and home. Together, let us cherish the values of love, harmony, and togetherness as we embark on a journey filled with hope and promise. Join us in spreading warmth and good cheer as we celebrate the spirit of New Year across vibrant communities.
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