Y-Ugadi, Samvatsaradi
(09.04.2024)
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
`Y-Ugadi’ is derived from the Sanskrit words yuga (age) and ādi (beginning); i.e. `the beginning of a new age’. It is celebrated on Pratipada Shukla Paksha, the first day of Chaitra Maas, the first month of the Indian Calendar (corresponding to March/April of the Gregorian calendar). Ugadi is another festival coinciding with the onset of spring and the harvest season.
Ugadi (in Telugu ఉగాది), Yugadi (in Kannadiga - ಯುಗಾದಿ), Samvatsaradi (संवत्सर in Sanskrit means `year’ and adi means beginning), Chaitra Suddha Paadyami (चैत्र शुद्ध पदयामि) is नव वर्ष (New Year) for people hailing from/ belonging to/ living in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra (as Gudi Padwa) in India.
The year starting Ugadi 2024 is called ' Krodhi ' (क्रोधी). Krodhi is the 38th year in the 60-year Hindu calendar cycle, and is in the second part, which is assigned to Lord Vishnu. Sixty Samvatsaras (years in Sanskrit, used in Vedic/other ancient texts) are divided into 3 parts, each part having 20 Samvatsaras. [2] The first 20 years are assigned to Brahma, the next 20 years to Vishnu and then the next 20 years to Mahesh/Shiva. All sixty Samvatsara are identified by a unique name and the list is at the end of this article.
Pic Ug 01 Pulihora
Ugadi or Yugadi is celebrated as the first day of the year, which marks the start of a new Samvatsara, which is part of the cycle of sixty years. It is believed that Lord Brahma began creating the world on Ugadi, referring to the present Yuga i.e. the Kalyug. [3]
Ugadi is new year according to the Luni-Solar calendar. The Luni-Solar calendar considers the position of the Moon and position of the Sun to divide the year into months and days. The Solar calendar considers only position of the Sun, to divide the year into months and days. By adopting the Luni-Solar calendar, new year is celebrated twice in the year, with different names and in two different months of the year. The Hindu New Year based on Solar calendar is known as Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Bihu in Assam, Vaisakhi in Punjab, Pana Sankranti in Orissa and Nabo Borsha in West Bengal.
The day begins with the ritual oil-bath followed by prayers. Oil bath and eating Neem leaves are important rituals suggested by scriptures. North Indians celebrate nine days of Chaitra Navratri Puja. Chaitra Navratri puja starts on the first day of Chaitra Maas and ends on Ram Navami, the ninth day. [4]
As per Hindu astrology, Ugadi falls on a very important day, Sadhe Teen Muhurta (meaning three and a half). In Vedic Astrology, Ugadi, Akshaya Tritiya, Vijayadashami and Bali Pratipada, fall on Sadhe Teen Muhurta, and any function or celebration on these days, needs no Muhurta. It is believed that all work performed on these days is considered auspicious and yields positive results. Ugadi is also very significant for shopping and people do lots of shopping on this day.
Traditionally people gather and listen to the recitation of Panchangam, which refers to the five attributes of the day – Tithi, lunar day; Yoga, luni-solar day; Vara, week day; Nakshatra, constellation; and Karana, half of a lunar day.
Panchangam includes the general forecast/predictions for the forthcoming year, based on the Janma-rashi i.e. the zodiac sign on which Moon transits based on the time of birth. The ritual of listening to Panchanga is known as Panchanga Sravanam and is an informal social function in which an elderly and respected person reads the Panchanga.
Gudi Padava or Samvatsar Padvo in Maharashtra and Konkan region. On Gudi Padava, a bright yellow, orange or green cloth is tied to the tip of a long bamboo with neem leaves, twigs of mango leaves, and a garland of red flowers. A silver or copper pot is placed in the inverted position over it, which is called a Gudi.
Pic Ug 02 Gudi Padwa
Navreh Kashmiri pundits, celebrate New Year with Navreh thaal consisting of un-husked rice, variants of rotis, curd, sugar candy, walnuts, almonds, salt, flowers, a silver coin, a mirror, a pen and the new panchanga (almanac).
Cheti Chand New Year for Sindhis (in India and Pakistan) is celebrated on the second day of Chaitra Maas, when people worship water – the elixir of life, in honour of the birth of Ishta Dev Uderolal (Jhulelal), the patron saint of the Sindhis.
The Marwaris of Rajasthan celebrate New Year as per Rajasthani calendar (Marwari Miti) as Thapna.
Sajibu Nongma Panba (Manipur), is the lunar new year’s eve celebrated with family, gatherings, feasts and offerings. After the feast, family members climb a specially made hillock to pay tribute to the God of hills, signifying elevation of the spirit to a divine height.
The Hindus of Bali and Indonesia celebrate New Year as Nyepi.
Ugadi is observed by drawing designs on the floor called Muggulu (Kannada: Rangoli), (Pic Ug 03); mango leaf decorations on entrance/doors called torana (Kannada: torana, Telugu: toranalu, Pic Ug 04); praying at home and in temples; charity; exchanging gifts; taking special bath followed by perfume/oil treatment; buying new clothes. Medieval texts and inscriptions record major charitable donations to Hindu temples and community centres on Ugadi.
Pic Ug 03 Moggulu at the entrance
Muggulu (Telugu: ముగ్గు) (Pic Ug 03)
Muggulu is a form of art using rice flour, chalk, chalk powder or rock powder sometimes with natural and/or synthetic colours. Female family members clean the entrance of their house with water and apply wet mud and cow dung paste, and then draw Muggulu.
The purpose of the art is that ants do not have to walk too long for a meal. The rice powder also invites birds and other small creatures to eat it, suggesting harmony with nature.
Pic Ug 04 Mango leaf decorations (toranalu) on entrance/door
The making of artistic Muggulu/Kollams is practised in Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and some parts of Goa and Maharashtra, as well as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and a few other Asian countries.
In Telugu and Kannada traditions, pachadi is a symbolic reminder that one must expect all flavours of experience in the coming year and enjoy them. Festive food pachadi is prepared, the ingredients, taste and significance of which are
jaggery, sweet and signifying happiness;
tamarind paste, sour and signifying unpleasantness;
raw mangoes, pungent and signifying unexpected/surprises in life;
neem flowers, (Pic Ug 05) bitter and signifying sadness;
salt, salty and signifying fear of unknown phase;
chilli, hot/spicy and signifying anger.
Pic Ug 05 Tender neem flowers
The use of raw mango precedes ripe mangoes, especially in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana. Tender neem flowers (Pic Ug 05) used in pachadi help clean the gut of toxins and work as an antibiotic for the upcoming summer heat.
Bevu Bella (Bevu in Kannada means neem flower, Pic Ug 05, and Bella is jaggery): Distribution of a mixture of tender neem flowers and jaggery is a tradition, especially in Karnataka. This is as a lesson to future generations that Happiness and sorrow, Success and failures come to us by our destiny in bits and parcels. We need to respect and take them as they come. It also teaches us that Life is unpredictable and we should accept life as it comes.
Pulihora (Pic Ug 01): Prepared with cooked rice, besan (chickpea flour), urad (split and washed/peeled black gram) dal and peanuts. This delicacy is among the favourite of people celebrating this festival.
Bobbatlu: Bobbattu or baksham or oliga or bhakshalu or pole/ polae in Telugu; holige or obbattu in Kannada; puran puri or vedmi in Gujarati; puran poli (पुरणपोळी) in Marathi; payasabolli or simply bolli in Malayalam; poli or uppittu Tamil; and ubbatti or simply poli in Konkani. Payasabolli is usually served with paal payasam in meals and feasts in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Pic Ug 06 Puran Poli, Boli,
[1] Author, Freelance, Indian Economic Service (Retired), former Senior Economic Adviser, Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site),
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been writing/sharing varied topics and
can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
[2] The ancient text Surya Siddhanta calculates a Samvatsara to be about 361 days, 4 days less than a solar year. One complete orbit of Brihaspati (Jupiter) through all the twelve signs of the zodiac, approximately equals twelve solar years. Five such orbits of Jupiter are referred to as a samvatsara chakra.
[3] As per Hindu scriptures, there are 4 Yugas - Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga (current yug), in this order.
[4] A write up on First Day of Chaitra Navratri (09.04.2024) dedicated to Maa Shailputri, is at the link https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site/post/first-day-of-chaitra-navratri-09-04-2024-dedicated-to-maa-shailputri-rohit-kumar-parmar
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