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About 400,000 Telugus in Malaysia, will join the estimated 76 million others around the globe to celebrate their new year Ugadi, which falls on April 2 this year.
Ugadi as the name ‘Yug-Adi’ suggests, is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Telugu year.
The dish synonymous with this celebration is known as Ugadi Pacchadi, consisting of six flavour profiles (shadruchi sammelan) that represent the different emotions a person experiences throughout life from birth till death.
When brought together, these six flavours complement one another, resulting in a delicious dish. The underlying idea is that when people manage their emotions well, they will enjoy a beautiful life on earth.
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Symbolism of Ugadi Pacchadi
- Jaggery: sweet – brings happiness to life
- Salt: salty – adds taste to life
- Neem flowers: bitter – represents unhappy moments in life
- Tamarind: sour – symbolic of disgraceful or sad episodes in life
- Raw mango: sour – symbolic of disgraceful or sad episodes in life
- Chilli powder: hot – represents angry moments in life
Preparing for the celebration
Preparations for the festival begin a week ahead.
Homes are given a thorough cleaning and family members shop for new clothes. They also shop for the various items required of the festival.
On Ugadi day, everyone wakes up before the break of dawn and has a ‘head bath’.
In the meantime, the elder women of the household prepare Ugadi Pacchadi Prasadam (Ugadi Sammelan) and distribute it to all in the family.
Prasadam is to be taken on an empty stomach so as to have a balanced life all throughout the year. At lunch time, everyone will sit down to a delicious meal of Garelu, Pulihora (Yellow rice) and Payasam (Kheer) among others.
The yearly forecast for the country, other locations and people based on Raasis is read. It is believed that listening to Panchanga Sravanam does good for the people.
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The significance of fresh mango leaves
As part of the celebrations, the entrance of homes is decorated with fresh mango leaves. The significance of tying mango leaves relates to a legend. It is believed that Kartik (or Subramanya or Kumara Swamy) and Ganesha, the two sons of Lord Siva and Parvathi were very fond of mangoes.
As the legend goes Kartik exhorted people to tie green mango leaves at their doorways to signify a good crop and general well-being. It is noteworthy that many people use mango leaves and coconut (as in a Kalasam, to initiate any pooja) only on auspicious occasions to propitiate gods.
People also splash fresh cow dung water on the ground in front of their houses and draw colourful floral designs.
This is a common sight in every household. People perform the ritualistic worship to God invoking his blessings before they start off with the new year.
They pray for their health, wealth and prosperity and success in business too. Ugadi is also the most auspicious time to start new ventures.
The celebration of Ugadi is marked with religious zeal and social merriment. People pickle mangoes with salt, powdered mustard and powdered dried red chilli and a lot of oil to float over the mangoes. This preparation is called “avakai” and lasts for a whole year.
Mangoes and summer go hand in hand
Ugadi is the beginning of the hot season which coincides with school vacations. For the young ones, therefore, Ugadi is characterised by new clothes, sumptuous food and revelling.
The air is filled with joy, enthusiasm and gaiety. Some people participate in community gatherings and enjoy a tranquil evening with devotional songs (bhajans).
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