Cart 0
Ugadi, also known as the Telugu New Year, is one of the most important festivals celebrated in South India, particularly in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. It marks the beginning of the new year and is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra, which usually falls in March or April.
The word “Ugadi” is derived from two Sanskrit words – “yuga” meaning era or age, and “adi” meaning beginning. It is believed that on this day, Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, began his work of creating the world. Ugadi is therefore considered a time for new beginnings, fresh starts, and setting new goals.
One of the main rituals of the Ugadi festival is the preparation and consumption of a special dish called “Ugadi pachadi”. This dish is made with six ingredients – raw mango, jaggery, neem flowers, tamarind, green chilli, and salt – each of which represents a different emotion or aspect of life. The sourness of the raw mango symbolizes surprise and unexpectedness, the sweetness of the jaggery represents happiness, the bitterness of the neem flowers represents sadness, the tartness of the tamarind represents disgust, the spiciness of the green chilli represents anger, and the salt represents fear. By consuming this dish, people are reminded that life is a mix of different emotions and experiences, and they must learn to accept and embrace them all.
Other popular traditions and customs associated with the Ugadi festival include wearing new clothes, decorating the house with fresh flowers, performing puja or prayers to the gods, and exchanging gifts and greetings with family and friends.
Overall, the Ugadi festival is a time for joy, happiness, and new beginnings. It reminds us to be grateful for the blessings in our life and to look forward to the future with hope and optimism.
