Ugadi (gudi padwa) is the celebration of a new Year beginning

Ugadi:-

Ugadi name has been changed from Yuga Aadi (Yuga + Aadi means beginning of New age). It is believed that the creator of the Hindu pantheon Lord Brahma started creation on this day - Chaithra Shuddha Prathipade or the Ugadi day. 

Ugadi heralds the beginning of the New Year, new month and new day. It also marks a beginning of new life with plants acquiring new life, shoots and leaves. Chaithra Masa (month) 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. We find happiness booming everywhere. So, the earth will appear in a special delight. Naturally, it is the happiest day of the year. The vibrancy of life and verdant fields and meadows full of colorful blossoms signifies growth, prosperity and well-being.

Ugadi marks the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar with a change in the moon's orbit. This festival is celebrated with fervour in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Known as Ugadi in AP and Karnataka, it is known as Gudipadava in Maharashtra. People prepare for the occasion by spring-cleaning their houses and buying new clothes and other items. Houses are decorated with fresh mango leaves. There are also typical dishes associated with Ugadi. 

It is the beginning of the Telugu New Year. Spring is the first season of the year, Chaithra is the most vital month and the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) is the better part of the month. The first day of the lunar month is auspicious. As all these important elements are present, it has special significance as marking the commencement of a New Year, described as Ugadi.

About Ugadi:-

 The New year festival or Ugadi comes close on the heels of Holi. While the strong colors of Holi start fading away, the freshness of spring lingers on with sprightliness all around. The flame of the forest (trees with bright red flowers that blossom during holi) are in full bloom signifying an affluent season.It is believed that the creator of the Hindu pantheon Lord Brahma started creation on this day - Chaitra suddha padhyami or the Ugadi day. Also the great Indian Mathematician Bhaskaracharya's calculations proclaimed the Ugadi day from the sunrise on as the beginning of the new year, new month and new day. The onset of spring also marks a beginning of new life with plants (barren until now) acquiring new life, shoots and leaves. Spring is considered the first season of the year hence also heralding a new year and a new beginning. The vibrancy of life and verdent fields, meadows full of colorful blossoms signifies growth, prosperity and well-being.

   With the coming of Ugadi, the naturally perfumed jasmines (mallepulu) spread a sweet fragrance which is perhaps unmatched by any other in nature's own creation! While large garlands of jasmine are offered to Gods in homes and temples, jasmine flowers woven in clusters adorn the braids of women.

Additional information:-

It is believed that the creator Lord Brahma started creation on this day – Chaitra suddha padhyami or the Ugadi day. Also the great Indian Mathematician Bhaskaracharya’s calculations proclaimed the Ugadi day from the sunrise on as the beginning of the new year, new month and new day.

Ugadi is the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar with a change in the moon’s orbit. It is a day when mantras are chanted and predictions made for the new year. Traditionally, the panchanga sravanam or listening to the yearly calendar was done at the temples or at the Town square but with the onset of modern technology, one can get to hear the priest-scholar on television sets right in one’s living room.

Story behind Ugadi:-

Lord Sri:man Na:ra:yana created four headed Brahma. He taught him all the ve:das and assigned him the task of creating the universe. Brahma prayed to Lord Sri:man Na:ra:yana, that he would like to have Sri:man Na:ra:yana with him always.   Lord Sri:man Na:ra:yana then brought out his form as an idol, exactly as he appears in the Milky Ocean, and gave it to Brahma.  This form is the first idol form of deity in this universe.

Later on Sun God requested Brahma and got from him the idol of Sri:man Na:ra:yana.  Sun God gave it to his son Manu, Manu gave it to his son Ikshva:ku.  Thus the idol form of Sri:man Na:ra:yana was continued to be worshipped in the dynasty of Ikshva:ku for several generations. Lord Ra:ma also worshipped the same deity.  At the request of Vibhi:shana, Lord Ra:ma gave the idol to him.

 Vibhi:shana while carrying the idol to his city Lanka, placed the idol on the banks of river Ka:ve:ri, for his afternoon prayers.  After finishing his prayers, when he tried to take the idol again, he could not lift it from there.  That place where the idol remained fixed is called Sri:Rangam and the idol form of deity, which is still being worshipped there is called Sri: Rangana:tha.  The day Lord Rangana:tha's idol form came into existence, which is the birth day of Lord Sri: Rangana:tha is called Yuga:di.  This is the day on which Brahma started creation of this universe. That is the main reason why we celebrate Yuga:di.

Yuga:di also signifies the start of spring season.  The whole nature changes its color. It is a new beginning with plants having new life, shoots and leaves,  green fields and meadows shining with full of colorful blossoms. Yuga:di is celebrated on the first day (pa:dyami) of the first month (Chaithra) of our traditional calendar.

(Ugadi Pachadi)Symbolic eating of a dish with six tastes:-

The eating of a specific mixture of six tastes (షడ్రుచులు), called Ugadi Pachhadi (ఉగాది పచ్చడి) in Telugu and Bevu-Bella (ಬೇವು-ಬೆಲ್ಲ) in Kannada, symbolizes the fact that life is a mixture of different experiences (sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise), which should be accepted together and with equanimity through the New Year.
The special mixture consists of:
Neem Buds/Flowers for its bitterness, signifying Sadness
Jaggery and ripe banana pieces for sweetness, signifying Happiness
Green Chilli/Pepper for its hot taste, signifying Anger
Salt for saltiness, signifying Fear
Tamarind Juice for its sourness, signifying Disgust
Unripened Mango for its tang, signifying Surprise

Ugadi prasadam:-

The main item prepared during the festival of is Bevu Bella. It is actually a paste made from jaggery, neem buds, tamarind juice and raw mango. All the ingredients are ground together to make a fine paste. The significance of this item is that it denotes all the tastes of life. The bitter, sweet and sour tastes each remind us the basic fact that life is a mixture of happy and sad events and we must remain ready to accept everything in life.

During Ugadi festival, all members of the family taste this paste and try to remain conscious of the fact that everything in life is temporary.

Apart from Bevu Bella, several other dishes are also prepared to celebrate the festival. Among the famous dishes cooked in Karnataka during this occasion are puliogure and holige (obbattu).

In Andhra Pradesh, eatables such as pulihora, bobbatlu and preparations made with raw mango go well with the occasion. In Karnataka too, similar preparations are made but called puliogure and holige.

Gudi Pawda:-

In Maharashtra also people celebrate the day similarly by decorating their houses, cooking special dishes at home and offering special prayers at home and temples. It also marks the end of Rabi season, and the yield is taken to the markets. On this day people fill silver or brass pots are decorated with coconuts, mango leaves and wrapped in silk clothe and placed on a pole. This represents appreciation of nature.s bountiful gifts that were given to us by God.

Mahrsahtrians make Halwa, Srikhand and Kheer on this day as special dishes to celebrate the New Year.

Preparing For The Occasion:-

Preparations for the festival begin a week ahead. Houses are given a thorough wash. Shopping for new clothes and buying other items that go with the requirements of the festival are done with a lot of excitement.
Ugadi is celebrated with festive fervour in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. While it is called Ugadi in Andhara and Karnataka, in Maharashtra it is known as "Gudipadava".
On Ugadi day, people wake up before the break of dawn and take a head bath after, which they decorate, the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves. The green mango leaves tied to the doorway signify a good crop and general well being. It is noteworthy that one uses mango leaves and coconuts (as in a 'Kalasam', to initiate any puja) only on auspicious occasions to propitiate gods.
People also splash fresh cow dung water on the ground in front of their house 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.

Season For Pickles :-

   With the raw mango available in abundance only during the two months (of April/May), people in Andhra Pradesh make good use of mangoes to last them until the next season. They pickle the mangoes with salt, powdered mustard and powdered dry 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 season go hand in hand. Ugadi thus marks the beginning of the hot season which coincides with the 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 social community gatherings and enjoy a tranquil evening with devotional songs (bhajans).

Kavi Sammelanam :-

   Kavi Sammelanam (poetry recitation) is a typical Telugu Ugadi feature. Ugadi is also a time when people look forward to a literary feast in the form of Kavi Sammelanam. Many poets come up with new poems written on subjects ranging - from Ugadi - to politics to modern trends and lifestyles.

   Ugadi Kavi Sammelanam is also a launch pad for new and budding poets. It is generally carried live on All India Radio's Hyderabad "A" station and the Doordarshan,(TV) Hyderabad following "panchanga sravanam" (New year calendar) narrating the way the new year would shape up in the lives of people and the State in general. Kavis (poets) of many hues - political, comic, satirical reformist, literary and melancholic - make an appearance on the Ugadi stage. Ugadi is thus a festival of many shades. It ushers in the new year, brings a rich bounce of flora and fills the hearts of people with joy and contentment.

Ugadi Celebrations all over the Country:-

The Hindus of Kashmir start their new year - Navreh - in mid March. At the same time, the southern Indian states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh begin their new year - Ugadi. The Marathas celebrate their new year Gudi Padwa, and the Sindhis observe Cheti Chand, the coming of new year, during the same time. Usually, the Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Kashmiri and Sindhi New Year falls on the same day - the first day of the month of Chaitra, heralding the advent of spring.

 Ugadi in Andhra & Karnataka:-

The Telugu and the Kannada New Year falls on the first day of the month of Chaitra (March-April). People in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states in the South of India believe that Lord Brahma began the creation of the universe on this auspicious day of Ugadi. People prepare for the new year by cleaning and washing their houses and buying new clothes. On the Ugadi day they decorate their houses with mango leaves and "rangoli" designs, and pray for a prosperous new year, and visit the temples to listen to the yearly calendar - "Panchangasravanam" as priests make predictions for the coming year. Ugadi is also an auspicious day to embark on any new endeavor.

In Maharashtra & Goa:-

In Maharashtra, the new year is celebrated as Gudhi Padwa - a festival that heralds the advent of spring (March-April). Early on the morning of the first day of the Chaitra month, people finish their ablutions, wear new clothes and decorate their houses with colorful "rangoli" patterns. A silk banner is raised and worshipped, and greetings and sweets are exchanged. People hang "gudhis" on their windows on this day to celebrate Mother Nature's bounty. A "gudi" is a decorated pole with a brass or a silver vessel placed on it.
Cheti Chand - the Sindhi Thanksgiving Day!

The Sindhis celebrate Cheti Chand on their New Year day which coincides with Gudhi Padwa in Maharashtra and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Cheti Chand falls on on the first day of the month of Chaitra, also called 'Cheti' in Sindhi. This day is observed as the birthday of Jhulelal, the patron saint of the Sindhis. On this day, Sindhis worship Varuna, the water god and observe a number of rituals followed by feasts and devotional music, such as bhajans and aartis.

Panchanga Sravanam:-

An important component of Ugadi celebration is to go to the temple and listen to the year'ss predictions. Usually the priest or an expert in astrology gives full details of how the year will be for people of each zodiac sign, and also predictions related to politics, marriages, jobs, promotions, natural calamities, wars, rains, crops, etc. Further, experts in astrology advise people to perform certain pujas(prayer services) to minimize and eliminate the negative energy from their lives. It is strongly believed that praying to God by going to the temples and conducting prayer services at home will help to have a a peaceful and happy year for everyone. That.s why on Ugadi day all temples are packed with people. This years's Shakaya Samvatsara Vijaya & Vikrami Samvatsara Parabhava Panchanga Sravanam is here.