People from across the state are gearing up to usher in the Telugu New Year or ‘Ugadi’ as it is known with traditional fervour and joy.
Ugadi marks the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar with a change in the moon's orbit and it is marked by chanting of mantras and invocations for the prosperous new year.
People begin preparations to usher in the festival by cleaning their houses and tying Mango leaves at their main doors. Colourful rangoli are drawn in front of the house to usher in the New Year.
On Ugadi day, the whole household gets up early and elders apply sesame oil on the head and body of their children and as part of the ‘Mangala Arati.’
After this ritual all the family members take head bath and pray to God to bring happiness in the coming New Year. Children take the blessings of elders in the family after wearing new clothes. They visit temples on that day and pray to God.
Special Andhra dishes like pulihora, payasam, vada etc are prepared on Ugadi day. It is a custom to buy new pots on this day. As the temperature goes on increasing from Ugadi day, people buy new earthen pots to get cool water.
Another tradition of Ugadi celebrations is Ugadi Pachadi. Ugadi Pachadi is prepared at home and offered as Naivedyam to God. Ugadi Pachadi is prepared with neem flowers, fresh jaggery, tamarind, raw mangoes. In some parts of the state sugar cane pieces, chilli powder, salt and bananas are also added.
Each ingredient of the Pachadi symbolizes each experience of life like sorrows, happiness, success and disappointment.
Though traditional, it has been scientific proven that each ingredient in the Ugadi Pachadi are beneficial to the human health. Neem flowers are good for diabetes and skin problems. Jaggery improves hemoglobin levels and sugarcane juice is good for fighting jaundice. Raw mango and tamarind also have medicinal values. A mix of all these ingredients is good for keeping good health.