Nuthana Ugadi Subankanchalu

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Ugadi, Telugu New Year

Although all festivals, either small or big are auspicious and sacred, Ugadi has a special significance for the Telugu people because it nobly inaugurates the Telugu New Year. In Andhra Pradesh, it is celebrated with much pomp and fun.

According to Hindu mythology, the New Year starts with Ugadi. It is on that day exactly in the lunar month of Chaitra on the sukla-paksha first day, that the creator Brahma started to create the universe. On that day the first rays of the sun and the first beams of moon fell on the earth. Hence Ugadi comes on the first day of the month of Chaitra.

The word ugadi is derived from the words Yuga (era) and aadi (beginning), meaning the beginning of a new era.

Ugadi comes in spring. Many of the trees start blossoming in the fields. On Ugadi day, the andhra people get up early and prepare themselves for the festival. Every house is now bustling with activity when the children join in cheerfully helping their parents in the household activities and decorations. The ladies will decorate the floor and yard with colourful designs called muggu (Rangoli) as a sign of auspiciousness and for welcoming the Lord. On Ugadi,festoons of mango leaves and flowers are placed at regular intervals in a string (maamidi toranalu) and hung at the threshold of the main door and gate. This is to ward off any evil spirits from the house.

Ugadi pacchadi

Ugadi is specially associated with what is called Ugadi pacchadi (chutney) in Telugu. Although it is not actually a chutney like other chutneys, it is termed so in all places of the world. It is a mixture which is prepared with:

(1) Tender flowers of fresh white neem

(2) Sugar/jaggery or small pieces of sugarcane or canejuice.

(3) Small pieces of tender raw mangoes.

(4) Fresh tamarind juice.

(5) Pieces of fresh green chillies and

(6) a pinch of salt.

Which is a combination of ingredients having 6 different tastes or flavours used in cookery commonly known as Shadruchulu, producing a delightful concoction of different tastes. This admixture of sweet and bitter symbolises life itself. Life is not a bed of roses, it has its ups and down, joys and sorrows, pleasures and pains, all of which need to be accepted with equanimity.

The whole ceremony is meaningless if the chutney is not eaten by the members of a family. After the Ugadi pacchadi is prepared, it is offered to the deity first as prasadam, and then eaten by the members of the family. It is even shared with neighbours, relatives and friends.

A special prayer session very often followed by a Hawanam (Yagyam) is also organised on Ugadi day, in all the temples. After the prayers, the priest addresses to the gatherings and wishes them all "nutana Ugadi subha kankshalu" or "Ugadi abhinandanaam" (Happy Ugadi).

ln Andhra Pradesh, after the prayer sessions the priest reads the panchangam or (panchanga shrawanam). All the nearby residents gather there and listen to it all. The Panchangam is the Telugu almanac which is the year' Special forecast prepared by astrologers. It gives details concerning the climatic condition, the family, the commercial prospects and appropriate dates and times to perform religious activities and the fate of the year in general. Some people do panchanga shrawanam in their own houses also.

On Ugadi, every one tries to look cheerful and to do pleasant things in the hope that the happy mood will continue throughout the year.

Thus, Ugadi brings in deep devotion on the one hand and rejoicings and relaxation on the other.

JAI TELUGU THALLI

S. Ramesh Rao

Kulim Telugu