Ugadi Spirit Beckons
By Latika R Chuganey

Yuga yugadi kaledharu
Yuga yuga maralli bharuthide
Hosa harushadhi, Hosa varushadhi
Maralli maralli bharathide
- Kuvempu

Its time to sing this old song once again, time to ring in the new year in the south.

‘Ugadi’ (in Karnataka and Andhra, Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra), is derived from the Sanskrit ‘Yugadi’, which means ‘beginning of a new Yuga or era’. According to the Hindu mythology Lord Brahma, the Creator, started the work of Creation on this day - Chaitra suddha padhyami or Ugadi day. It is also believed that Lord Krishna shed his body on this day, signalling the end of the Dwapara Yuga and the commencement of the Kali Yuga Ugadi, marking the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar.

According to historic calculations, we will be stepping into the 5108th year of Kali Yuga. Since the New Year falls during lunar eclipse, it is called Chandrammana Ugadi. Ugadi also signifies thanksgiving to celebrate bounteous crops. It is also considered the most auspicious time to start new ventures. 

Traditionally the most important thing in the festival is Panchanga Shravanam - hearing of the Panchanga, the yearly calendar. The priests read the Panchanga Shravanam at temples. The reading of the Panchanga involves reading of other Tidhis (wealth and prosperity) during the year and ends with a forecast for various happenings in life. 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 next step is to offer prayers to the Sun God, before accepting Vepapoota Pachadi (Neem flower pickle) on an empty stomach. Prayers for health, wealth and prosperity and success in business are part of the festival.

On the festival day, people wake up before the break of dawn and take an oil bath. People prepare for the New Year by cleaning and washing their houses, especially the entrance. People also splash fresh cowdung and water on the ground in front of their house. The entrance of their homes are decorated with a toran of fresh mango leaves signifying a good crop and general well-being and colourful garlands that add colour to the doors. The fragrance of fresh flowers adds as an extra essence to the festive mood. Beautiful rangoli designs are drawn at the entrance to make the house colourful, flower petals are also used to add life to the well designed rangoli. The temples that are in-built at homes are well decorated with flowers, mango leaves and diyas. The gods are showered with milk, buttermilk, honey, flowers, tulsi leaves and water. They are then dressed with well-designed clothes and glittery jewellery.

If it is festival time, its time for more food and more calories. Before we get in to the main menu, the prasadam that is served to all are bitter leaves of the Neem tree with jaggery. An interesting custom that must be followed before eating the prasadam is to recite this shloka:

“Shatayaru vatra de haya
Sarva sampath kara yacha
Sarva rishta ninash raya
Nimbakandala bhakshanam”. 

This shloka reminds us to accept both the joys and sorrows with equal mindedness.