About Ugadi Festival
- A festival that binds more than half of our nation, known as Ugadi or Gudi Padwa is the New Year according to Hindu calendar.
- The first month of the year is called Chaitra and the first day of Chaitra is known as Ugadi.
- This festival holds utmost importance in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Different Names of Ugadi Festival
- This day is celebrated with different names and for different reasons.
- In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana-Ugadi.
- In Karnataka-Yugadi.
- Celebrated as by the Sindhi community-Cheti Chand
- In Kashmir- Navreh
- In Manipur-Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba
- In Maharashtra-Gudi Padwa
Ugadi Festival Incomplete without food
- On the occasion of Ugadi, a mixture of six ingredients is made, each symbolizing an emotion, to be consumed by the family members.
- Neem buds/flower -Sadness
- Jaggery- Happiness
- Green chilli- Anger
- Salt- Fear
- Tamarind- Disgust
- Unripened Mango- Surprise
- A similar mixture is made in Maharashtra which is supposed to help purify the blood and increase immunity.
- Along with the mixture, Puran Poli is also prepared in Maharashtra which is called Obbattu or Holige in Karnataka and Bobbattu in Andhra Pradesh.
- The dish is prepared by stuffing paste of gram and jaggery in a roti topped with ghee, milk or coconut milk.
Significance Ugadi Festival
- The festival marks the beginning of Vasant Ritu and New Year according to the Hindu Calendar.
- Gudi Padwa also indicates marks the completion of harvesting of Rabi crops.
- It is said to mark the day when Brahma created the world after the great flood.
Source: India Today
