History Associated With the Celebration of Ugadi

The word Ugadi also known as Yugadi has been derived by combination of two words Yuga meaning age and adi meaning beginning of a new age. Yugadi refers to the age today we are living in which is the kali Yuga which is believed to have been started after Lord Krishna left the world. The event has been described by Maharshi Vedavyasa as “Yesmin Krishno divamvyataha, Tasmat eeva pratipannam Kaliyugam” and it begins starts on the midnight of 17 or 18 February. In the luni-solar calendar the festival falls on the bright half of the Chaitra month of India on the “Chaitra Sudhdha Padyaami” and it falls mostly in April or March as per the Gregorian calendar.

Yugadi is celebrated after calibrations from the 12th century, Bhaskara II. It begins after the first new moon and on the sunrise after the sun crosses the celestial equator from south to North. On this day the Su enters the initial point of Aries. Many people also celebrate the festival on the next morning as the day is believed to start in India after the sun rise. Like in 2015, though the spring equinox began on 20th of March, the Yugadi festival was celebrated on the next day that is on 20th of March. It is also celebrated in some parts of America.

UGADI HISTORY

The festival of Ugadi marks the beginning of the New Year for those living between Kaveri River and Vindhyas and those who follow the lunar calendar of South India particularly in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The calendar dates back to the Shalivahana era which is supposed to have been built by the great legend Shalivahana. The king Shalivahana was also referred to as Gautamiputra Satakarni is responsible for initiating the era of Shalivahana.

The Lunar calendars have a cycle of sixty years and a New Year starts on the day of Yugadi on Chaitra Sudhdha Paadyami. After the completion of every sixty year the calendar starts with a fresh New Year. During the festival the season of spring is believed to have arrived at its fullest and every where the colours of festivals can be seen. New leaves budding on the trees look amazingly beautiful and utmost zeal and excitement can been seen in the hearts of people celebrating Ugadi. Though, Lord Shiva had cursed Lord Brahma that he will not be worshipped ever but in Andhra Pradesh this festival of Ugadi is specifically celebrated in honour of Lord Brahma. As per the ancient tales, it is believed that Lord Vishnu had taken the form of Matsya. On the day of Ugadi people clean their house and the nearby area and decorate the entrance of their house with mango leaves. And also people buy new clothes for them and for their family members.

UGADI DATE 202025th March 2020