Ugadi 2023 is celebrate on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. It is the Hindu New Year for the central Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. Ugadi is also know as Yugadi, Samvatsaradi (“Beginning of the Year ”) or Telugu New Year (according to the Telugu ethnicity in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana). Ugadi marks the Hindu New Year, marking the end of winter and the beginning of the agricultural season. It is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra (the first lunar month of the Hindu calendar).
Ugadi 2023 is an optional holiday. It is a day-long festival with celebrations in the early hours of the morning when people wear new clothes after an oil bath. But the preparations start a few days in advance with cleaning and decorating the house.
Ugadi 2023 Tithi and Muhurat
To find the Ugadi muhurta (auspicious “moment” for Ugadi rituals), you must first know the timing of the tithi (lunar day).
- Chaitra Shukla Pratipada Tithi Starts: March 21, 2023, at 10:52 PM
- Chaitra Shukla Pratipada Tithi Ends: March 22, 2023 at 8:20 PM
In Hindu lunar calendar terminology, Chaitra Shukla Pratipada Tithi (“1st month” “Wasting moon” “First lunar fortnight” “Lunar day”) is a long-winded way of saying the Ugadish or Hindu New Year. Chaitra Shukla is the waxing month of a fortnight, i.e. the first half of the first lunar month, called Chaitra. Pratipada is the first day of the lunar fortnight.
These are the traditions for determining the Ugad muhurta (when to perform the beginning of the year rituals):
- Ugadi is ideally celebrate at sunrise on the first lunar day of the year.
- If there are two sunrises during the Pratipada Tithi, the first sunrise is prescribing for the celebrations.
- If the sun does not rise during the tithi (lunar day), there should be celebrations i.e. puja (worship rituals) at the beginning of the tithi.
Ugadi is celebrate as the beginning of the year for the people of Karnataka and Andra Pradesh. It is a harvest festival and an auspicious day for starting new businesses. It usually occurs in the month of Panguni (mid-March – mid-April) on the first new moon after the vernal equinox.
Significance of Ugadi
The name Ugadi is derive from the Sanskrit words “Yuga ” meaning “age” and “Adi ” meaning “beginning”. As it is the beginning of the spring season, it also means change, growth and prosperity. Devotees thank the gods for the harvest they have received and seek blessings for the coming year. It is a celebration in which the entire household participates and is perform with great enthusiasm.
Ugadi Mythology
According to Hindu mythology, Ugadi is the day when Lord Brahma initiate the creation of the world and is therefore the patron deity that is worship. Lord Vishnu is also worship on this day as he is the creator of the ‘Yug.’ It is also refer to as Chaitra Suddha Paadyami according to Hindu religious texts.
Rituals in Ugadi 2023
The day begins with the whole household waking up before dawn and taking a head bath after massaging the whole body with sesame oil and wearing new, traditional clothes. The idols of gods and goddesses in the house are then also bath in oil and then settle and offerings of neem, mango and tamarind flowers are made. Colourful, intricate patterns made of rice flour called Rangoli decorate the entrance of houses.
After the prayers are over, it is customary to worship the ‘Panchang’ (Hindu calendar). The elder of the household reads the Panchang for all to hear. Special blessings are to be grant to those who read and listen to the Panchang on this day.
A special kind of food is prepare for this occasion and it is called Bevu Bella or Ugadi Pachadi. It is a mixture of Neem flowers or buds, jaggery, green chillies, salt, tamarind juice and unripe mango that symbolizes the duality of life that oscillates between happiness and sadness and our willingness to accept both equally. The rest of the day is spent visiting temples and celebrating with family and friends.
History of Ugadi
The legend behind this festival is that Lord Brahma created the universe on Ugadi.
The nine-day spring festival of Vasanta Navratri (Chaitra Navratri) begins on this day and ends on Ram Navami. The creator of the Hindu pantheon, Lord Brahma, is believe to have started creation on this day – “Chaitra Suddha Padyami” or Ugadi day.
Astronomical calculations by the famous Indian mathematician Bhaskaracharya in the 12th century determined the date of Ugadi from sunrise to the beginning of the new year, new month and new day.
Benefits of Ugadi 2023?
- Heralding the New Year by invoking the blessings of Brahma and Vishnu.
- These religious ceremonies bring happiness, wealth and prosperity to the devotees.
