Vedic New Year-Ugadi-- Rituals and Preparations

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Ugadi -- Rituals and Preparations

Ugadi is celebrated with festive fervor in Maharashtra, Karnataka

and Andhra Pradesh. While it is called Ugadi in A.P. and Karnataka,

in Maharashtra it is known as Gudipadawa. This year Ugadi falls on

21st Mar, 2004.

 

Ugadi marks the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar. It is a day

when mantras are chanted and predictions made for the new year. The

most important thing in the festival is Panchanga Shravanam -

hearing of the Panchanga. The Panchanga Shravanam is done at the

temples by the priests. Before reading out the annual forecasts as

predicted in the Panchanga, the officiating priest reminds the

participants of the creator - Brahma, and the span of creation of

the universe.

 

The reading of the Panchanga then involves reading of other Tidhis

(wealth and prosperity) during the year and ends with h a forecast

for various sectors of the social life and the strengths and effects

of various constellations and their transitions. The scriptures

state that the benefits reaped by the listener as well as the

reader, are equivalent to having a dip in the holy river Ganges. The

individuals hearing the Panchanga should respectfully 'thank' the

reader and offer him new clothes and seek his blessings.

 

Preparations for the festival begin a week ahead. Houses are given a

thorough wash. Shopping for new clothes and buying other items that

go with the requirements of the festival are done with a lot of

excitement. On Ugadi day, people wake up before the break of dawn

and take a head bath. The bath is supposedly to be taken after

massaging the entire body using sesame oil.

 

The next step is offer prayers to Sun, before accepting Vepapoota

Pachadi (Neem Flower Pickle) on an empty stomach. Entrance of the

houses are decorated with fresh mango leaves. It is noteworthy that

we use mango leaves and coconuts (as in a Kalasam, to initiate any

pooja) only on auspicious occasions to propitiate gods. People also

splash fresh cow dung water on the ground in front of their house

and draw colourful floral designs. This is a common sight in every

household. People perform the ritualistic worship to God invoking

his blessings before they start off with the new year.

 

In Andhra Pradesh, eatables such as pulihora, bobbatlu and

preparations made with raw mango go well with the occasion. In

Karnataka too, similar preparations are made but called puliogure

and holige.