Ugadi – Telugu new year

To those who don’t know Ugadi, it’s the new year day of Telugu and Kannada people in India.

I’m always fascinated about the kind of festivals we have in India. Right on the needed time, much needed scientifically, socially etc. Ugadi is one such festival, it’s the beginning of the year in lunar calendar.

Ugadi marks the beginning of Spring, vasanta navaratri starts from today, and the ninth day is Sri Rama Navami. Though it falls in Spring, practically, Sri rama navami marks the beginning of hot Summer. You know how hot the climate is in India. The practice of distributing fans made of dry leaves is a way of charity, these fans are used to get relief from the summer heat. Of course, those days there were no ceiling fans and air-conditioning. Who will forget the vadapappu and panakam that is distributed in temples on Sri rama navami? No matter, you believe in God or not.

The special Ugadi pachadi with six tastes of life is a must take on that day. This mixture is a way of teaching children that life is a mix of ups and downs, and you should not be overwhelmed by success or distressed by failure. After all, it’s life and you have to see everything. My mom says this on every Ugadi.

The day starts with oil bath. And then, the Ugadi special mixture is prepared with six tastes: Tamarind, Neem buds, Jaggery, Chilli/Pepper, Raw Mango and Salt. This is a unique taste that you don’t get in anything. Along with taking this, learn the lesson – life has all these.

Then comes Panchanga Sravanam, recital of the Panchangam – the predictions for this year by astrologers. And after that, as usual with all festivals, invite extended family and celebrate. I enjoyed all this in childhood, but now almost at the end of Brahmacharya, learning to earn/profession is more important than everything else.

Happy Ugadi! ఉగాది శుభాకాంక్షలు