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Ugadi - The Beginning of New hopes and Aspirations

Ugadi is a joyous festival that marks the New Year in the Southern states of India. This year, the festival of Ugadi/Gudipadwa 2023 falls on 22nd March, Wednesday. Ugadi in a literal sense means 'the beginning of a new age'. According to the legend, Ugadi/Gudipadwa marks the beginning of the creation of the universe and mankind by Lord Brahma.

People celebrate theNew Year on various days as per various calendars followed across India. However, according to Dharma Shastras, following the lunar calendar which starts on the first day of Shukla Paksha of the Chaitra month is considered very auspicious. Hence, Ugadi/Gudipadwa marks the first day of our Puja calendar.

Ugadi/Gudipadwa also symbolises the beginning of the Spring season (Vasant Rutu), which brings new hopes and aspirations into one's life. Ugadi is celebrated by various names in various Indian states such as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Thapna in Rajasthan, Sajubu, Nongma Padwa in Manipur, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Baisakhi in Punjab, etc.

Rituals and Traditions of Ugadi

The preparation begins a week before the festival when people clean their houses and shop for new clothes. The day of Ugadi is marked by families and relatives gathering to make rangolis, and decorating their houses with flowers, and mango leaves. People worship the deity of their household to bless them with prosperity and well-being. After Puja, Panchanga Shravanam will be done followed by the offerings of traditional dishes like Ugadi Pachadi and sweets to God.

Panchanga Shravanam

Panchanga Shravanam is an age-old tradition of listening to predictions and forecasts calculated and curated as per the Jyotisha Shastra. This tradition is majorly followed in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. Since it is the beginning of the year, people wish to know how their new year is going to be. Usually, a Purohit or a local scholar or the head of the family will read out the Panchanga for the year. They explain the planetary movements and their effects on people according to their Rashis (zodiac signs) and Nakshatras (birth stars). They talk about the planets which may cause malefic effects in the concerned year. They predict the profits and losses, fame and insults of each Rashi and also suggest remedial measures to avoid negativity. They also talk about the climatic conditions of the new year and predict calamities like droughts, famines and floods. They predict political and lifestyle changes of the future and insist on worshipping God and doing charitable activities to turn negatives into positives.

The tradition of Panchanga Shravanam helps people understand the practicality of life, finding out remedies through which they can protect themselves from various problems. It allows them to start the new year on a good note with optimism and hope.

Ugadi Pachadi

Ugadi Pachadi has aspecial place in the celebrations. It is a traditional dish and the ingredients of Ugadi Pachadi represent the six different tastes that our taste buds carry. The neem buds are for bitterness, jaggery for sweetness, chilli for a spicy taste, tamarind for the tangy taste, raw mangoes for sourness and salt for the salty flavour. There is a great philosophy behind preparing Ugadi Pachadi on this auspicious day. Ugadi Pachadi is a perfect mixture of six different flavours which bring in a balance and a neutral taste. Similarly, our life is a blend of good and bad, positive and negative experiences which brings in a balance and makes it worth living. To symbolize and echo this life learning, Ugadi Pachadi is offered to the Lord and is served as Prasadam among the devotees after conducting the Puja.

Special Pujas on Ugadi for an auspicious New Year

To help you succeed in your new ventures and plans in the upcoming Shobhakrit Nama Samvatsara, our Purohits are providing an opportunity to perform Sampurna Navagraha Shanti Homam, Sampurna Nakshatra Shanti Homam and Ayusha Homam. With the rituals, you can avoid the malefic effects caused by Grahas and Nakshatrasits and invite positive results. Ayushya Homa helps you avoid ill health and grants good health and long life for you and your family.

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