Ugadi

From Hinduism

Hindu Festivals
Ugadi Greeting Card
Holiday Name	Ugadi
Observed by	Hinduism
Where Observed	South India
Translation	New Years' Day
2009 Date	March 27
States	Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
Celebrations	1 Day
Observances	None
Related to	Gudi Pawa

Ugadi from yuga + aadi, yuga means era, aadi means start. The start of an era) is the new year's day for the people of the Deccan region of India. While the people of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh use the term Ugadi for this festival, the people of Maharashtra term the same festival, observed on the same day, Gudi Padwa.

The Telugu and the Kannada New Year falls on the first day of the month of Chaitra (March-April). People in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states in the South of India believe that Lord Brahma began the creation of the universe on this auspicious day of Ugadi. People prepare for the new year by cleaning and washing their houses and buying new clothes.

On the Ugadi day they decorate their houses with mango leaves and rangoli designs and pray for a prosperous new year, and visit the temples to listen to the yearly calendar - called Panchangasravanam as priests make predictions for the coming year.

Ugadi is also an auspicious day to embark on any new endeavor.