Significance of Yugadi

By N Dixith  

Yugadi marks the beginning of the New Year.  Yuga here is defined as year and adi  means the beginning.  It is the most important festival for Hindus.  The festival is celebrated with great fanfare.

In south India Yugadi day, begins with ritual showers (oil bath) followed by prayers. Main entrance of the houses is decorated with fresh mango leaves. Wearing new clothes, people offer Pooja for the 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.

Chandramana-Souramana : However, celebration of the festival is not unique throughout the country. Chandramana system (Lunar almanac) and Souramana system (Solar almanac) are the two important systems followed in India.  Most of the people in Karnataka, Maharastram,  Andrapradesh follow Chandramana Yugadi, people of Tamilnadu , Kerala, coastal some parts of Karnataka follow Souramana Yugadi.

Some common things observed during this festival are head bath, eating of neem leaves and panchanga shravanam (listening to the yearly calendar) Chadramana Yugadi is observed on the first day of Chaitra masa.  It also marks a beginning of new life with plants acquiring new life, shoots and leaves. Chaithra Masa ends the shivering winter season. We see budding tender leaves, flowers and fruits; listen to chanting of birds and smell fragrance of flowers from distance.

Bevu-Bella : People consume Bevu (neem) and Bella (jaggery). The neem, though tastes bitter for the tongue, it is good for health. Neem is considered to be an insecticide. Jaggery increases haemoglobin in blood and provides additional energy for the body. It is believed that consuming neem and jaggary will prevent many diseases which are most common in summer.

The inner significance of this is to indicate that life is a mixture of good and bad, joy and sorrow, success and disappointment, and all of them have to be treated alike. All experiences have to be treated with equanimity.

Panchanga Shravana :  Another important part of Yugadi celebration is Panchanga Shravana-listening to the yearly calendar.  Experts will open the new Panchanga on the day and explain the forecast of rain, crop, storms, crop prices and other relevant things. Prediction of the whole year and make people prepared to face any situation.

Hindu new year day- Yugadi is celebrated throughout the country with different names. Here are some examples