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Ugadi, also known as Yugadi, is a significant festival celebrated by people in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. The word "Ugadi" is derived from two Sanskrit words - "yuga" meaning age and "adi" meaning beginning, signifying the beginning of a new year according to the Hindu calendar.
The festival usually falls in the months of March or April and marks the onset of spring. The festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm and fervor, as it is believed to bring new beginnings, prosperity, and happiness.
Celebration of Ugadi: The festival is celebrated by cleaning and decorating homes, wearing new clothes, preparing delicious traditional dishes, and exchanging greetings and gifts with family and friends.
One of the important rituals of Ugadi is the preparation of 'Ugadi Pachadi', a special dish that signifies the different flavors of life, including sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy. The dish is made with six ingredients, including neem buds, jaggery, tamarind, mango, chilli, and salt. Each ingredient represents a different emotion or aspect of life, and the dish symbolizes the idea of embracing all the ups and downs that life brings.
Another important aspect of Ugadi celebrations is the decoration of the puja room with mango leaves and flowers, and the offering of prayers to Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe. People also visit temples to seek blessings for a prosperous new year.
Wishing from Lord Saligrama Srinivasa Devasthanam: As part of the Ugadi celebrations, devotees of Lord Venkateswara visit the Srinivasa Saligrama Devasthanam in Bangalore to seek blessings for a happy and prosperous new year. Lord Venkateswara is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is known as the presiding deity of the temple.
In conclusion, Ugadi is a joyous occasion that marks the beginning of a new year and offers an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate the start of a new journey. It is a time to embrace the different flavors of life and seek the blessings of the divine for a happy and prosperous year ahead.