Happy Ugadi

Ugadi, or Yugadi, is a festive occasion that heralds the commencement of a fresh year in the Hindu lunar calendar. Celebrated with enthusiasm in India and it falls on Chaitra’s first day, signaling the advent of spring and the harvest season. This festival embodies the spirit of optimism, abundance, and the anticipation of a brighter future. The term ‘Ugadi’ originates from Sanskrit, combining ‘yuga’ (age) and ‘adi’ (start), representing the dawn of a new epoch. It’s a time for renewal and setting intentions for the year ahead. The festival has different names in different part of India. It is celebrated as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra. Baisakhi or Navreh in North India, Bihu in North East of India, Naba Barsha in East of India, Vishu or Putuhandu in some parts if south India. People welcome the new year by cleaning their houses and wearing new clothes and preparing special food called Pachadi. It is made with basic ingredients like sweet (jaggery), bitter (neem flowers), sour (raw mango), salt and pepper. These flavors represent the various emotions and ups and down of life. SO let us welcome the new year with all its flavors, a life without flavors or uncertainties or ups and downs is kind of boring. Let us teach our kids significance of these festivals. In olden times these festivals taught us the way of life, a life style that prepared us to handle stress. In this fast life, let us pause for a while and celebrate these occasions. Happy Ugadi, Happy Baisaki, Happy Vishu........