Ugadi (April-May)

Ugadi/Lunar New Year/Chandramana Ugadi

Close on the heels of Holi, Ugadi/Lunar New Year is celebrated. Bramha started "Creation" on this day that falls in the month of Chaitra. Spring is considered the first season of the year and hence heralding new year and new begining.Ugadi  (yuga-age, adi - beginning) marks the first day of the new year in the Lunar Panchang/Calendar. Traditionally, panchanga shravanam/reading in homes and temples is common practice on this day. Predictions for the year is made for the upcoming new year.

Everyone in the household take an early shower and wear new clothes. The entryways are elaborately decorated with rangoli. The main door way gets a fresh mango leaves torana along with small neem flower twigs darped along on the torana. The rangoli and torana signifies the general well being in the household. Eveeryone prays for health, wealth, prosperity, success and more.

This is a religious and social Holiday and speciality dishes like obbattu/holigae/poli and puliyogarae are the norm. Neem flowers/bevu and jaggery/bella are given as prasad after the phanchangam reading. Bevu Bella are bitter and sweet and its a life lesson to take whatever life throws your way with equanimity.It is also common to make what is called the Ugadi pachadi on tis day (made of fresh raw mango slices, neem flower/leaves, jagerry and tamarind) signifying the combination of bitter, sweet sour experiences that life has to offer.

The day before Ugadi is celebrated as Habbada Amavasyae (no moon day) and usually payasa and ambodae are the added feature in most households.

The day after Ugadi is also celebrated as a mini festival. It is believed that any thing we do and say will stick with us all year long. It is encouraged only to use good speech and do good deeds. It is also a fun game, to pull a string form the clothes ( better if new) and blow it towards the moon. The moon may bless you with many new clothes in the new year.