Yugādi,(Ugādi 'Samvatsarādi Kannada: ಯುಗಾದಿ Yugadi, Telugu: Ugadi/Yugadi, Konkani/Marathi:
युगादि yugādi) is the New Year's Day for the people of the Deccan region of
India.
The name Yugadi or Ugadi is derived from the Sanskrit words yuga and ādi: "the beginning
of a new age".
It falls on a different day every year because the Hindu calendar is a lunisolar calendar.
The Saka calendar begins with the month of Chaitra and Ugadi marks the first day of the
new year.
Chaitra is the first month in Panchanga which is the Indian calendar.
While the people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka use the term Yugadi/Ugadi for this festival,
the people of Maharashtra term the same festival, observed on the same day, Gudi Padwa.
Marwari, people of Rajasthan celebrate the same day as their new year day Thapna.
Sindhis, people from Sindh, celebrate the same day as their New Year day Cheti Chand.
Manipuris also celebrate their New Year on the same day.
The Hindu New Year, however, is observed as Baisakhi in Punjab, seri Saja in Himachal
Kullu Vally, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and Pohela Boishakh in West Bengal on April 14 or 15.
It is also celebrated in Mauritius.
Hindus of Bali and Indonesia also celebrate their new year on the same day as Nyepi.
This tri-state festival could be the result of the common rulers from the Satavahana Dynasty
Lunar Almanac The word Yugadi can be explained as; 'Yuga'
is the word for 'epoch' or 'era', and 'ādi' stands for 'the beginning' in Sanskrit.
Yugadi specifically refers to the start of the age we are living in now, Kali Yuga.
Kali Yuga started the moment when Lord Krishna left the world.
Maharshi Vedavyasa describes this event with the words "Yesmin Krishno divamvyataha, Tasmat
eeva pratipannam Kaliyugam".
Kali Yuga began on February 17/18 at midnight in 3102 BCE.
The festival marks the new year day for people between Vindhyas and Kaveri river who follow
the South Indian lunar calendar, pervasively adhered to in the states of Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa.
This calendar reckons dates based on the Shalivahana era, which begins its count from the supposed
date of the founding of the Empire by the legendary hero Shalivahana.
The Satavahana king Shalivahana is credited with the initiation of this era known as Shalivahana.
The Salivahana era begins its count of years from the year corresponding to 78 CE of the
Gregorian calendar.
Thus, the year 2000 CE corresponds to the year 1922 of the Salivahana Era.
In the terminology used by this lunar calendar, Yugadi falls on "Chaitra Shudhdha Paadyami"
or the first day of the bright half of the Indian month of Chaitra.
This generally falls in the months of March or April of the Gregorian calendar.
In 2013, Ugadi falls on April 11.
In 2014, Ugadi falls on 31 March.
Lunar calendars have a 60-year cycle and starts the new year on Yugadi i.e., on "Chaitra Sudhdha
Paadyami".
After the completion of 60 years, the calendar starts a new with the first year.
Yugadi is based on Bhāskara II lunar calculations in the 12th century.
It starts on the first new moon after Sun crosses equator from south to north on Spring
Equinox.
For example, the time for the new moon for Bijapur where Bhaskaracharya was born can
be determined from the website [1] However, people celebrate Yugadi on the next morning
as Indian day starts from sun rise.
Many Indians in America also celebrate Yugadi.
Observance of the festival The Kannada,Telugu, Marathi, Kodava and the
Konkani diaspora in Karnataka,Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu and
Kerala celebrate the festival with great fanfare; gatherings of the extended family and a sumptuous
feast are 'de rigueur'.
The day, begins with ritual showers followed by prayers.
Symbolic eating of a dish with six tastes Bevu-Bella in Kannada, symbolizes the fact
that life is a mixture of different experiences, which should be accepted together and with
equanimity through the New Year and The eating of a specific mixture of six tastes, called
Ugadi Pachhadi in Telugu the pachadi varies in different regions, in case of Telangana
it is more liquefied.
The special mixture consists of: Neem Buds/Flowers for its bitterness, signifying
Sadness Jaggery and ripe banana pieces for sweetness,
signifying Happiness Green Chilli/Pepper for its hot taste, signifying
Anger Salt for saltiness, signifying Fear
Tamarind Juice for its sourness, signifying Disgust
Unripened Mango for its tang, signifying Surprise Special dishes
In Karnataka a special dish called Obbattu or Holige, is prepared.
It consists of a filling stuffed in a flat roti-like bread.
It is usually eaten hot or cold with ghee or milk topping or coconut milk at some places
of Karnataka.In Andhra Pradesh, a special dish called Bobbattuare prepared on this occasion.
Another dish which is prepared on occasion of Ugadi is Ugadi pachhadi.this dish is ceremonial,
it is not common to have it otherwise.
Recitation of Almanac Later, people traditionally gather to listen
to the recitation of the religious Panchangam of the new year, and the general forecast
of the year to come.
This is called the Panchanga Sravanam, an informal social function where an elderly
and respected person will read the almanac.
In Kannada, the greeting is "Yugadi Habbada Shubhashayagalu" - ಯುಗಾದಿ ಹಬ್ಬದ
ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು or "Hosa varshada shubhashayagaLu" - ಹೊಸ ವರ್ಷದ
ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು.
In Telugu, the greeting is "ugadi subhakankshalu" -ఉగాది శుభాకాంక్షలు
In Konkani, it would be Navve varsache shubhashay, Samsar padvyache shubhashay.
In Marathi, it would be 'गुढी पाडव्याच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा'.
See also Telugu years
Yuga Vedic Timeline
Hindu calendar References
External links Ugadi SMS, Messages, Greetings and Wishes
Telugu Daily Panchangam 2012