Ushering Ugadi | The Traditions & Customs of the South Indian New Year

Ugadi or Yugadi is the grand New Year festival of the Deccan India. Yugadi literally translates into ‘Yug’ – age and ‘Adi’ – the beginning, thus, Yugadi is the beginning of a new age. If you want to celebrate Ugadi in the most authentic style, then here are some of the traditions that need to be followed on this auspicious day:

1. Celebrating the Significance with Cleanliness

According to mythology, Lord Brahma created this day and Ugadi is celebrated to welcome the vibrancy and blessings of the spring season. It’s that time of the year when we would require cleaning and disposing off all bad and negative articles from our homes and office premises and lay down those colours that will help us to bring in some positive energy. After cleaning, the homes are decorated with white chalk or colourful Rangoli, flowers and decorative items.

2. The Special Delicacy – Ugadi Pachadi

Ugadi is totally incomplete without the Ugadi Pachadi – a special dish that touches every taste bud of your tongue, that is, bitter, sweet, salt, sour, tangy and spicy. Ugadi Pachadi is made using jaggery (indicating sweetness), tamarind (indicating challenges), Neem flowers (indicating difficulties in life), raw mango (indicating overcoming challenges) and chilli powder (indicating balance of emotions). Scientifically, this preparation is very beneficial for our immune system as it helps us to fight against all odds during this change of season.

Other popular delicacies prepared on this day: Atukulu Payasam, Bellam Garelu, Rava Pulihora, Vankaya Batani, Pappu Pulusu and more.

3. Traditional Attire on Ugadi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indian festivals are celebrated with a zest of colours and sparkles, and all this starts with wearing new clothes on festive occasions. While men on this day wear shirt, lungi and angavastram, women wear South Indian Silk or Kanjivaram Sari accompanied with Gold Ornaments and Gajra in their hair.

4. The Holy Rituals

Panchanga Sravanam is prepared by a highly qualified Pandit on Ugadi for each family member to forecast about the good and bad things that will occur in the upcoming year. This practice alerts us of unforeseen misfortune and gets us prepared for fighting against all odds. People visit temple on this day to seek blessings from god. Kavi Sammelan or literary gatherings are also held in several areas where beautiful poems and literary discussions are recited.