Ugadi 2016 or Yugadi 2016 will be celebrated on the 08th April. Ugadi is a New Year which is celebrated by this name in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The word Yugadi is derived from a Sanskrit word Yuga which means �the era�. It comes on the first day of the Chaitra month of the Hindu Lunar Calendar. Chaitra month is the first month of the Hindu Lunar calendar. The same festival is celebrated as different names in different states. In Maharashtra, Yugadi is celebrated as Gudi Padwa, in Rajasthan Marwari people celebrate it as Thapna. Similarly people of Punjab observe the day as Baisakhi and people of Tamil Nadu celebrate their New Year as Puthandu. It is believed that on this day Lord Brahma started creating the world.

Ugadi: The Celebrations

It is a custom to hear the yearly predictions on Ugadi. In the olden times people used to assemble at one place and hear the yearly predictions by saints. At temples the yearly calendar was announced to let people know about the events of next year. These days, people watch these predictions while sitting at their homes on the Television sets.

Preparing delicious traditional dishes on Ugadi is considered very auspicious. Women of the family prepare these dishes and then all the family members take the meal together. Houses are cleaned well in advance and are beautifully decorated. People take an early bath and dress up in new and traditional clothes. It is also considered very sacred to decorate the house with mango leaves.

One legend is associated with the mango leaves. It is believed that Goddess Parvati and her two sons Lord Karthika and Lord Ganesha were very fond of mangoes. Lord Karthika encouraged people to hang mango leaves on their entrances as a sign of good crop and prosperity. The traditions live on from then and symbolizes general well being and bliss of the family. It is believed that worshipping God on Ugadi will end all the problems that a man faces.

Obbattu or Holige is prepared in the households in Karnataka. In Andhra Pradesh Bhakshyalu or Bobbatlu is another dish which is prepared on the sacred day of Ugadi. People start preparing for this special day well in advance by cleaning their houses and decorating them with Rangolis and Diyas (oil lamps). People worship their Gods to thank him for the previous year and seek blessings for a fruitful new year. Mango leaves and coconuts are used to start the auspicious Puja of the New Year. All the rituals are followed to please the Gods to get the divine blessings.

The overall celebration is a great extravaganza of faith, culture and tradition. The celebrations take us to a different era as the entire city is covered in a traditional blanket. At some places neem leaves and jaggery are distributed to the people. As the bitter and sweet taste of neem leaves and jaggery signifies two indispensable aspects of human life that are happiness and sorrow. This also signifies that a man will accept the sorrows and happiness alike that is in store for him in the coming year.

Spring and Ugadi

The New Year or Ugadi marks the blooming flowers, singing birds and green leaves. During this time the nature presents itself at its best as if to treat the human beings with all the gifts that it has in store. The glorious best of nature motivates us be a part of it. Welcoming the spring we also dance, sing and get engrossed in all the colors it offers. The colorful season brings with it a promise that a bright future awaits us.

Lessons From Yugadi

Ugadi is not just a festival of feasting and celebrating but it is also about offering selfless service to the entire mankind. The day reminds us that selfish existence is not what God intended for us. The Almighty intended us to live together in harmony and help each other in the times of need. With times we have not been able to live peacefully and therefore Ugadi takes us to different era and makes us realize the right way of living. Ugadi also gives us a glimpse of our old traditions and customs that we have forgotten.

We wish all of you a happy and promising Ugadi 2016. We hope that New Year will end all your troubles and bring a horde of opportunities in your life.