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Thursday 24 April 2014

Ugadi Festival



U is the 21st alphabet.  Ugadi Festival  which is celebrated in Karnataka,Maharashtra, Sind and Andhra Pradesh. I have described here the festival, which I attended  at a friend's house. The rituals  described here are based on the basis of  celebrations in my friend's house.

Ugadi is the celebration of New Year in Kanataka and Andhra Pradesh.  There are other states also, which celebrate  New Year at the same time of the year but they are named  differently. For example Maharashtrians and Sindhis also celebrate  New Year at the same time. While in Maharashtra it is known as Gudi Padva, Sindhis call their New Year Chedi Chand. (Y)ug means ‘era’  and ‘adi’ means the beginning, hence it marks the end of one yuga. It usually marks the end of March or the beginning of April. Sun God is worshipped during this festival.


The legend associated with the festival is that Lord Brahma started the creation of the universe on this day. All the elements present  in the universe were also created. Life is a mixture of  happiness, sadness,  anger, fear, disgust, surprise, love, shock and helplessness.  Thus the   new year gives a message that human beings  must accept ups and downs in life with equanimity. A dish called Pachadi, which has nine ingredients is prepared in many homes. It contains curds, salt, raw mango,  green chillies, jaggery, curry leaves and  mustard seeds. The nine ingredients  represent the nine elements present in the universe. Another dish known as Puran Poli is  also considered  auspicious. It is made with jaggery, and rice/ maida and looks like a roti.
Special Preparation
 People get up early morning and have oil bath. They  visit  friends and relatives and have a feast. The festival coincides with the advent of Spring, when nature is at its best.


Pics Courtesy Google
Words 240 


34 comments:

  1. Glad to read about our festival. A small piece of info. I don't know how it is made in other states but, in A.P, we make the pickle with 6 ingredients. Which are called shadruchulu. 'Shad' meaning 6. Jaggery - sweet, Salt, Chili Powder - spice, Neem flower for bitterness, tamarind water for sourness and Raw mango for tangy. :)

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    1. Thank you Latha. In different states there may be slight variation but the spirit is the same.

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  2. Another interesting facet of India told beautifully in the form of this festival

    U for Uncanny-Random Thoughts Naba

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  3. it was good to read about the festival we celebrated recently :)

    http://swathishenoy.blogspot.in/2014/04/u-for-uncertainty.html?m=1
    a-z participant

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  4. Happy Ugadi! :O) My mother had a financial advisor for years who came from India. We attended a wedding reception for his eldest son, for whom they had brought a wife over from India. It was very beautiful.

    LuAnn Braley
    AJ's Hooligans @AtoZChallenge
    Back Porchervations

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    1. That is interesting. Welcome to my site LuAnn.

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  5. We too celebrate this festival but with a different name. It's a wonderful time to spend with family and friends.

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    1. Yes Rajlakshmi, name may be different but the objective is the same. Is'nt it?

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  6. Wow....I wished my colleagues here a few days back on Ugadi , and they were so happy :) Nice to read about it here :)

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    1. Thanks Sreeja. There must be many people from Andhra and Karnataka.

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  7. India is a country with variety in food ,garb and celebrations,yet some common features we can sight in them.Than k you for all such posts.Nice,ma'am.

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  8. I thought it would be Ugadi today Usha ji . It is grandly celebrated in both AP and karnataka and I love the way the ugadi pickle has all flavours of life
    good informative post as alwawys

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  9. One of my favourite festivals. Brings about a sense of newness in our mundane lives.:)

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    1. Thanks The Side I Hide. for visiting my site.

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  10. we celebrate Ugadi and it is an important festival here, consuming the neem and jaggery mix is an important part of the festival..u explained the significance well!!

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  11. I love the mythological stories associated with festivals :-)

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  12. I liked the story behind this festival. And love puran poli. And this reminds me that it has been ages since I had it!! :|

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    1. Thank you Shilpa. It is quite difficult to make Puran Poli. Is'nt it?

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  13. So many reasons to celebrate life! This festival had interesting origins and traditions.

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    1. Yes Kathy, festivals add color to otherwise mundane life.

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  14. I love Puran Poli. The different festivals add colors to the soul of India as a country. Didn't know about Pachadi and the different significance of the festivals that you wrote about, Ma'am:)

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    1. Puran poli is a favourite with every body. Festivals make life vagrant and colorful.

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  15. We celebrate Ugadi just as you have described Ushaji, In Karnataka, ugadi pachchadi is just a mix of neem flowers and jaggery indicating that life is a mixture of joy and sorrow and we should have a balanced approach to life, taking both in our stride.

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    1. Pachadi is made in different ways in different families.

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  16. One more tradition about this ugadi is "Panchanga sravanam" which forecasts about the new year.

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