Welcoming the Hindu New Year - Ugadi or Gudi Padwa

Ugadi, is an Indian festival which marks the first day of Indian Lunar calendar. The first day of first month, Chaitra is observed as Lunar New Year's day. Ugadi is celebrated with a great emphasis involving several rituals by the people of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, the festival is called as Gudi Padwa.

The legend of the festival is quite spectacular as it dates back to the creation of Universe! According to a legend, it is considered that Lord Brahma created the universe on this auspicious day, thus symbolizing the beginning of time.

The significance of lunar calendar and the Ugadi festival is that it welcomes the immaculacy of the spring season. It denotes the beginning of the season where the entire mother earth is found to be blooming with colorful flowers and fruits and thereby bringing happiness, prosperity and growth to the fellow humans.

The preparation of Ugadi celebration begins at least a week advance. People deep clean the entire house a week ahead, and purchase new clothes for them-selves and for their family. Wearing new clothes on this day symbolizes keeping step into a new beginning.

On the day of Ugadi, people wake up before the break of dawn and take head bath with sesame oil and later they wear new clothes which isnormally traditional. Women's wear kanchipuram silk sarees or salwar suits and men wear ethnic wears like kurtas or dhotis.  The homes and temples are decorated with flowers and mango leaf.  People either make a visit to temple and recite panchanga along with the priests or do the offerings to god at their home to seek the blessings of almighty. Ugadi special cuisines are made and shared among the family. These are few of many rituals done on the day of Ugadi.

Wishing you all a joyful and prosperous Ugadi!!!


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