The name Yugadi or Ugadi is derived from the Sanskrit words yuga (age) and ādi (beginning): “the beginning of a new age”. It is believed that Lord Brahma, the creator of the Universe created days, months, years, and the vital elements of nature on this day of beginnings.
Yugadi or Ugadi falls on “Chaitra, known also as Samvatsarādiis the New Year’s Day for the States of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka in India. It is festively observed in these regions on the first day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Chaitra. This typically falls in April month of the Gregorian calendar.
Ugadi is celebrated in Karnataka, by worshipping several gods and goddesses. The Kannada people mainly worship Lord Ganesha, Mata Parvati, Lord Vishnu, and Goddess Lakshmi. The festivities of Ugadi coincide with “Chaitra Navratri” celebrated in north Indian states and “Gudi Padwa” celebrated in the central state of Maharashtra. The festival is called “Ugadi” in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while in Karnataka it is called “Yugadi”.
Ugadi pachadi is made of neem flowers, raw mango, jaggery, pepper powder, coconut and salt with slight variations in making this. Some of the other ingredients that are used for making this tastier are fried gram (putnalu pappu), cashews, raisins, and sliced banana.
The six tastes of this pachadi are sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and spicy and the basic ingredients that go into this pachadi are neem, jaggery, mango, tamarind, chilli and salt.
Ugadi has been an important and historic festival of the Hindus, with medieval texts and inscriptions given in major charitable donations to Hindu temples and community centers on this day. The same day is observed as a New Year by Hindus in many other parts of India.
Similar in concept is the Gudi Padwa festival, which will also be celebrated on the same day. It is mostly celebrated by the people of Maharashtra according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar. Gudi Padwa gets its name from two words: ‘gudi’, meaning Brahma’s flag, and ‘padwa’, meaning the first day of the phase of the moon.
On this day, Hindus take a customary oil bath, following which, they wear new clothes — mostly traditional attire — and decorate their home. Traditional rangoli is made with flowers and colors, and people then go on to hoist the gudi, or the revered flag.
In this beautiful festival, it is wished that the lights of Ugadi bring glow and warmth to everyone’s life with health and happiness and bright new beginnings. It is prayed that Lord Ganesha fulfill who is the main god worshipped will fulfill all dreams and desires!