Ugadi

Importance of the Ugadi

Ugadi is celebrated as the New Year for many Parts of India like in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Assam, Karnataka with different names likes Ugadi, Gudi padwa and Bihu, whereas Kerala celebrate Onam and Punjab celebrate Baisaki on this day.

Ugadi, as its name says, Yug – Adhi means beginning of a new Yuga (Yuga means a Day for lord Brahma and a Year for us). It is also believed that Lord Brahma started the creation of world on this day. This day falls on Chandramanam Sukla Paksha Sudhya Padyami. This is considered as the most auspicious day of Chaitra Masam. Also, Ugadi is the beginning of Vasanta Ruthu (Spring Season). Vasantha Navratri also starts with this day.

Just as January 1^st is celebrated as the new year globally, Ugadi is considered as the New Year for Telugu people based on the Hindu lunar calendar. It is a festival of new beginnings, re-energizing for the next year and welcoming it with open arms.

Pooja Samagri needed

• Pasupu (Turmeric/Haldi)
• Kumkuma
• Coconut
• Bellam (Jaggery)
• Fruits
• Panchangam
• Deepam (Diya/holy lamp)
• Flowers (To offer God)

Ugadi Pachadi Samagri needed

• Vepa putha (Neem flower)
• Belam (Jaggery)
• Chintapandu (Tamarind)
• Water
• Ghee
• Raw Mango

Major Activities Done

• Prathi Gruha Dwaja Rohanam:

This originally meant hoisting the holy flag on the top of the houses but with changing times this ritual is now followed as “Putting the Freshly made thoranam (a string of flowers and mango leaves) on the main door of the house after cleaning it and applying the Pasupu to the entrance and drawing a beautiful Rangoli”.

• Taila Abhiyanganam:

This simply means taking shower. I initially thought “what is new in this, I take my shower daily.” I learnt that the shower on Ugadi is actually a two-step process which is what makes it special:

• Taila: Taila means oil and the first part is applying oil (Sesame oil) to the body.
  • Holy importance – It is said that on this day Goddess Lakshmi resides in oil and by its application she blesses us.
    • Beauty Importance – Oil application before taking a shower helps us preserve the skin moisture and much more.
    • Abhiyanganam: it means taking a shower from head to toe (which includes washing our hair). As my grandparents would say, usually in olden days’, people used to take the shower by washing the hair with Kunkudkaya (Soapnut) and applying Nalugu (an herbal soap mixture prepared at home) to the body which results in complete cleansing of body.

• Nava Vastra Daranam:

As the name says it all, we look forward to new beginnings for the new year by wearing new clothes (this is optional).

• Brahma Poojanam:

After taking our shower and wearing new clothes, next comes offering prayers and remembering the god. After finishing the Nithya puja (daily Pooja that one does at home), we also pray to Lord Brahma.

Brahma Pooja includes:

• Vigneshwara Pooja (Prayer to Lord Ganesh using Pasupu Ganapathi made for this pooja and Bellam is offered)
  • Navagraha Pooja
    • Brahmadhi devathala Pooja
    • Panchagam Pooja
    • Offer Nayivedyam (prasadam)

After finishing the Brahma Pooja, we will also keep the new Panchangam in the Pooja and offer prayers to it.

• Nimba Kusuma Baksham (Ugadi Pachadi)

Once you complete your Pooja, you offer the Ugadi Pachadi as the prasadam and eat it. It’s also believed that the flavor that dominates in your pachadi is an indication of how your coming year will be.

It is also believed that one should eat this Ugadi pachadi as the first thing on the day of Ugadi as this also has a lot of medicinal importance.

Importance:

• Vepa putha: tastes Bitter – symbolizes the difficulties in life.
  • Belam: tastes Sweet – symbolizes happiness in life.
    • Chintapandu: tastes Sour – symbolizes challenges in life.
    • Water: tastes nothing – symbolizes that it is ok to have no taste but acting like a binding element to all flavors of life.
    • Ghee:  three things in Vedas that are considered as equal to amrutham: water, cow ghee and amrutham.
    • Raw Mango: No other tree has the name of the God, it is also believed that Godess Ambika dwells in the Mango tree.

• Panchanga Sravanam:

This means Listening/Reading the panchangam on the day of Ugadi.

Let’s learn what is Panchangam:

Panchangam (Pancha + Angamu) it is a book that holds the information of 5 key things: Thidi, Vaaram, Nakshatram, Karanam and Yogam for the new Telugu year that starts on Ugadi. This book holds information about auspicious days of the year, helps with finding good muhurthams and making Kundali (Birth Chart). This book also speaks about how the above mentioned 5 key elements can affect an individual and also considered to give information about predictions based on the zodiac signs.

On the day of Ugadi, it is considered as a holy ritual to listen to what the panchangam has in store for your zodiac sign and to thank and pray the lord for your well-being.

• Raja Darsam:

In olden days, everyone used to go and visit the King and then collectively go for the Kula daivam (the God that the community believes in) Darshan. Now-a-days, people usually go to temple.

In some other places, it believed as going to the king, gurus and relatives. Wishing them and taking their blessings on this day was a custom. A sweet custom like this should be still continued.

Note

• Every festival is celebrated differently in every house according to their own family traditions.
• This is just one of way that we follow in our house.
• We should cherish these traditions and pass them on to our next generations. Especially the ones who are staying out of India including me, it is much more difficult for us and much needed.

Stay Blessed and Have a Happy Ugadi!!!!