Happy Ugadi ! Welcoming Nandana

Tomorrow is Ugadi - the Hindu New Year according to the Lunar Calendar.. It is believed that Lord Brahma started his creation on this day - Chaitra month shudda padyami - also celebrated as Ugadi. Ugadi means "Yugada Adi" - the start of the new year. At this time of the year, there is fragrance of fresh Jasmine and of Mangoes. All the trees are blossoming and are filled with fresh leaves as its the onset of spring. In my home garden , we have a bumper crop of Jasmine ( snaps of which i have shared on my facebook profile, for those interested )

Ugadi festival is celebrated in Karnataka ,Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. In Maharashtra it is known as "Gudipadva". On this day, people wake up early ( before dawn ) , take a head bath (oil bath ) after which they decorate the main door step of their houses with a string of fresh mango leaves called "torana". Ladies also draw colorful floral designs called "Rangoli" in front of their houses. This is very common in almost every house in Karnataka and AP,more prevelant in the rural areas.


People worship God invoking HIS blessings on the new year. They pray for health, wealth and prosperity and success in business too. Ugadi is also the most auspicious time to start anything new - a new project , a new home , a new family , etc.


This year , we are moving from Khara nama samvatsara to Nandana nama samvatsara. In Lunar calendar , unlike the English calendar , all the years have a name and not just denoted by numbers like 2012, etc. What a wonderful concept and such precision in astrology we have inhertied from our forefathers !


Below is a short poem I wrote and want to share here :

Looking ahead , a bright and new life
Leaving behind , memories and sweet moments.

Time spent with nature's peaks
Trying to understand what it speaks

Some more time with my dear ones
Trying to understand what I mean

All these are now only in the past
It was good and I have not lost

Am not complaining , am not remorse
As I am thankful I got at least so much

Now, on to the new year with gust and zeal
This is life , it is only to be Lived.

I wish all of you and your family a very happy and prosperous Ugadi !