Yugadi: The Traditional New Year Celebrations

Wish you all a prosperous and happy new year ‘Yug’ stands for era or year and ‘Adi’ means the beginning. So the word Yugadi literally means the beginning of the New Year. It is an important festival that is celebrated in the Deccan region or the southern states of India. It is believed in our mythology that the creator of the universe, Brahma, began creating life on Earth on this auspicious day. According to the Hindu calendar, Yugadi is the day on which the new astronomical cycle begins. This is the day on which the Sun crosses over the equator from south to north. Yugadi marks the onset of spring in the Deccan region. That is why it is believed by many that this is the best time of the year to begin new ventures as it signifies a fresh start. Yugadi Celebration In order to cherish the significance of the festival of welcoming the New Year, a special dish is prepared. This dish is the symbolic reference of all that the New Year brings with it: Jaggery (sweetness and happiness) and Neem Flowers (bitterness and challenges). This dish is distributed to all the members of the family by the eldest member, reminding all that life is a mixture of joys and sorrows. There are some important rituals that are carried out before, during and after the festival. On the previous day of the festival, all the members of the family get together and clean the house. This signifies the end of the past and a brand new beginning. On the day of Yugadi, people wake up at sunrise and take bath. They make it a point to wear new clothes as another symbol of newness. Mango leaves are washed, cleaned and used to decorate the main entrance to the house and all the doorways with a string of mango leaves. This is a sign of wellbeing and prosperity. Yugadi Celebration in South India Large rangolis are drawn in front of houses as a sign of welcoming goodness, health and wealth to the family. Some people who believe in astrology, invite a pundit home so that he can prepare an astrological chart for each of the family members and warn them of the upcoming doshas or obstacles that can be rectified by certain prayers or rituals. Delicious traditional South Indian meals and sweets are prepared in every home. A sweet dish, a rice item, curry such as rasam and sambar, salad with dal and vegetables, pickle, etc. are served. This year, the Yugadi festival is being celebrated on the 6^th of April. May the Yugadi bring in peace, happiness, prosperity, health and wealth to all. Tell us in the comment section, how you are planning to celebrate Yugadi this year. To know more about Indian Culture, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.