Yugadhi

Yugadhi or Ugadi is a festival celebrated in certain parts of South India (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharastra). The name Yugadhi is derived from Sanskrit words yuga (age) adi (beginning) which means “beginning of new age”.

The Hindu Lunisolar calendar begins with the month of Chaitra (March–April) and the first day of this Chaitra month is celebrated as Yugadhi. So Yugadhi is the New Year’s Day according to panchang (Hindu calendar).

Significance of Yugadhi

The significance of Yugadhi stems from mythological times when Lord Brahma started his wonderful creation including earth and all life forms on this day (1^st day of Chaitra month). The festival of Yugadhi is celebrated to acknowledge that very day on which Lord Brahma started with the task. The celebrations and prayers that follow fill people’s hearts with joy and contentment. The day also marks the beginning of spring season, which is considered to be the first of all seasons.

Spiritual Significance of Yugadhi

Leaving the past behind and starting afresh with positive expectation is one of the key aspects of Yugadhi. It  is  a  faith  that  how  one  spends  that  day  will influence  the  forth-coming  year.  Thus everyone should spend   that   day   in   peace   and   joy   through   spiritual, religious and cultural activities. It is not only a New Year according to the Hindu calendar, but also sets the new astronomical cycle into motion. The planetary positions are favorable to spiritual advancement on these special festivals and one should make use of that timing.

People celebrate this festival with new hopes, aspirations and joy. Before Yugadhi day houses are cleaned and people decorate their houses traditionally with flowers, mango leaves and rangolis. Mango leaves signifies healthy wellbeing, good harvest and prosperity. On the day of Yugadhi people wakeup early in the morning, take head bath according to rituals and do prayers to God to welcome the New Year. A special dish called “YUGADHI PACHHADI” is prepared. Yugadhi pachhadi is a unique dish of six different tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, spice, astringent and salt). It is prepared by adding the ingredients like neem buds, jaggery, mango, salt, green chilli, tamarind juice etc. This dish signifies, life is a mixture of different experiences like happiness, sorrow, anger and love. It tells that one should take every experience positively to make life successful. Because of its ingredients this dish also has a great medicinal value. It balances the doshas of the body and prepares it for upcoming seasons.

On this day predictions are made for the New Year. The panchanga shravanam or listening to the yearly calendar is done traditionally at the temples. Everyone likes to have peace, prosperity, health, wealth and happiness in their lives. This can be done by observing Yugadhi festival with the help of Spiritual or Godly knowledge and by bringing change in oneself by replacing the vices with good virtues etc.