Ugadi or Gudipadava - the New Year Day Festivals of India

Panchanga Patanam: Priest reads out the 'panchangam' (almanac), at a temple Source: The Hindu

 

Womenfolk Rejoice on Ugadi

The term Ugadi has two syllables i.e., Yuga (Era) and aadi (commencement). So Ugadi marks the beginning of New Year according to Telugu calendar.

Pooja at Home

The New Year festival Ugadi (Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka) or Gudi Padava (Maharashtra) or Cheti Chand (Sindh) is being celebrated on the first day of the every Hindu calendar year by the people of Deccan region in India.

Chandramana: the Hindu Calendar System

According to the Hindu Panchang or ephemeris the first day of the Hindu lunar (Chandramana) calendar falls on the Chaitra sukla Padyami i.e., Pradhama thithi during Shukla Paksha or waxing cycle of the moon (bright moon fortnight) of Chaitra month (Corresponding month March). Sali vahana Saka (Era) is the Hindu lunar (Chandramana) calendar followed in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra states and hence it is rightly termed as 'Lunar Almanac of Deccan' (Wikipedia). It also marks the beginning of spring season.

Salivahana Era

Traditionally King Salivahana is being credited for initiating the calendar and hence the name Salvahana Saka. Historians corresponds the beginning if Salivahana to 78 AD of your Gregorian Calendar. Thus the current Salivahana year 1936 corresponds with the year 2014 AD.

Sowramana: the Hindu Calendar System

Please understand that only people from the three states celebrate new year on this day. People of Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Manipur, Orissa, Punjab and Tamil Nadu follow Hindu Solar (Sowramana) calendar.

Tamil New Year

The new year is celebrated in Tamil Nadu as Nirayana Mesha Sankranti (Sun's transition into Nirayana Aries). The day marks the enry of sun into Aries or Mesha sign / Rasi of the zodiac (Corresponding Gregorian calendar date April 13 or14).

Vishu

The new year (Vishu) day in Kerala is celebrated in Kerala as Thiruvonam (Sun's transition into Nirayana Margasira). The day marks the entry of sun into Leo or Simha sign / Rasi of the zodiac. This day coincides with Shravana or Thiruvonam star.

Sixty year Cycle

Another interesting information about the Tamil and Telugu calendar is the revolving cycle of years. Unlike other calendar system there is a name for every year. Thus there is a list of sixty calendar names. After the end of every sixty cycle the new cycle begins. Accordingly the name of the current new year is 'Virodhi' and it is the 23rd year in the list. It falls on Friday the 27th day of March 2009.

Holy Bath in Rivers

Fervor and gaiety mark Ugadi. The new year dawns with fanfare among the People of Deccan region. The households will clean their homes and decorate the entrance with mango leaf festoons. People go to holy rivers and take head bath. Worship sun god. Traditionally the bath is associated 'Surya Arkya' with sesame thil and hence the ritual is named as 'Thailabhyanganam.' People enjoy with this festival by dressing in colorful attire.

Rejoice with Neem recipes

Another interesting ritual of Ugadi is 'Nimba Kusuma Bhakshana.' The term 'Nimba' means neem and the term 'Kusuma' means flower. There is much importance to neem flower in Ugadi celebrations.

Nimba Kusuma Bhakshana

Neem is bitter in taste. People will rejoice in tasting the ingredients representing three tastes. The households will prepare Neem Sauce (Pachadi) and Neem Soup (Rasam). The ingredients of the recipes will represent six tastes i.e., jaggey (sweet), raw mango (sour), salt (salty), neem flower (bitter), chili (pungent) and tamarind (astingent). In Kannada the recipe is named as 'Bevu-Bella.'

Panchanga Sravanam

The traditional Panchanga Sravanam is an important event. People will assemble at temples in the morning and listen the new year prospects as described in the Panchangam i.e., regional ephemeris / almanac / calendar.

Reference Sources:

1) Gudi Padwa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gudi_Padwa
2) Indian New Year's days http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_New_Year's_days
3) Ugadi & Gudi Padwa http://www.astrologyforu.com/others/events/ugadi.php
4) Ugadi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugadi
5) Usher in the New Year http://hinduism.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/a/hindunewyear.htm
 

Published by MUTHUSAMY R on Mar 27, 2009 in ASSOCIATED CONTENT
Ugadi or Gudipadava - the New Year Day Festivals of India  http://voices.yahoo.com/ugadi-gudipadava-year-day-2950102.html

Tamil New Year Day or Varusha Pirappu or Tamil Puthandu : One of the Important Hindu Tamil Festivals

When Sun transits into zodiac Aries (Mesham), the Tamil New Year ‘Kara’ commences. The festival is called as Tamil Puthandu or Varushapirapu.  Tamil Calendar and Tamil astrology (Nirayana astrology) are considered as one of the most ancient astrology system. The solar calendar system follows 60 year cycle and the years are named specifically (not numbers). The new year will be called as ‘Kara’ (25^th year) and the last year was called as ‘Vikhruti’ (24^th year). The Tamil year has 12 months and they have specific Tamil names like Chithirai, Vaikasi, Aani, Aadi and so on. This sidereal astrology system has 27 constellations duly aligned with the zodiac and there are 108 mansions (padam).

According to the Tamil Panchangam (solar calendar system) the Tamil New Year will begin as per details shown below: 

1.      Date = April 14, 2011;

2.      Time = 11.27 a.m;

3.      Day = Guruvara (Thursday);

4.      Paksham = Shukla Paksham;

5.      Masam (Month) = Chithirai;

6.      tithi = Ekadasi (11^th Lunar Day);

7.      Star (Constellation) = Makam (Magha)

8.      Rasi (Moon Sign) = Simha (Leo) sign

9.      Lagna (Ascendent) = Mithuna (Gemini) sign

10.  Navamsa Lagna = Meenam (Pisces) sign

11.  Navamsa Rasi = Mithuna (Gemini)

12.  Dasa = Ketu

13.  Buddhi = Guru (Jupiter)

14.  Andharam = Surya (Sun)

15.  Horai = Chandra (Moon) horai

It is conventional to identify three important planets as king (Raja), minister (Manthri) and commander (Senathipathy or Mekathipathy or Arkathipathy) for the Tamil New year.  For the Tamil  new year 2011 – 2012 the ruler (king) will be Lord Chandran or Moon; the minister will be Lord Guru or Jupiter;  and the commander will be Lord Budha or Mercury . The Hindu mythology marks this day as the day of creation since Lord Brahma commenced his activity of creation on this day.

Tamil New year is an important festival celebrated by Tamils. This festival is mainly observed in Tamil Nadu and all nations with huge Tamil diaspora populations, like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, United Kingdom and United States. Sun is considered as the planet of energy. When sun transits into Aries it becomes exalted and obtains its full potential during this period. There the Tamil month Chithirai is considered as an auspicious month and Tamil New year day as the most eventful day. The prayer to sun god will bring prosperity and health. Malayalam speaking people (follow Kollam calendar system) also celebrate this day as Chaitra Vishu (harvest festival of Kerala). In north eastern India Vishu is also called as Bisu. The transit of sun to Aries also marked as Mesha Sankraman or Mesha Sankranti.

The Tamil Hindus attach much importance to Varushapirappu or Tamil Puthandu. As usual the houses will be cleaned and white washed. On Tamil New year day the front court yard of the houses will be adorned with Rangoli kolam. Mango leaf festoons will be tied over the front entry doors. Before night womenfolk will arrange fruits, coconuts, betel leaves, nuts, flower, coins or currency notes, gold jewels in a large plate and will be kept in a common place. Oil lamp will be lit. Viewing the fruit as soon as you woke up in the morning is considered as auspicious, and it is known as ‘Kani kanal’. Elders and other members will have bath and wear new dresses. In some specific families darpanam (holy prayer in remembrance of departed souls) will be offered. Family members prostrate before the elders and seek their blessings.

 The Hindu temples make elaborate arrangements for ‘Panchanga Patanam’ or astrological prediction of the Tamil new year from the new year panchangam. In some temples there will be festivals, processions, lectures and music events.

The lunch on the Tamil New year day will have special menu item called ‘pachadi.’ This dish will highlight  six tastes – Astringent,  Bitter, Pungent,  Salty, Sour and Sweet. People will feed the poor and may also offer new dresses.

Vishu Kani