Happy & Properous Yugadi( New Year ) to all !

A New Year Begins

Happy “Sanvsar Padvo” or Yugadi as we Konkanis or GSB’s greet each other on this day which is falling on 16th March 2010.

The Kannadigas and Andhrites call it “Ugadi” while the Maharashtrians call it “Gudi Padwa” and the Sindhis, “Cheti Chand”.

Each community celebrates this day with certain specific rituals but one “ritual” common to all is preparing exotic varieties of food and eating them !!

It is supposed to mark the beginning of the Hindu Calendar. From this day onwards a new "Panchang" ( Hindu astrological almanac which follows traditional Indian cosmology, and presents important astronomical data ) is to be followed till the coming of the next Yugadi.

As per my knowledge, we Konkanis do not have any special religious ritual as such (correct me if I am wrong) except eating all the yummy food that is prepared on this day !!

Ofcourse, we have an early morning bath and we do clean and decorate our homes and wear new clothes. It is said that the husbands should bring their wives a new sari on this day. I do not know if this is said in jest. I am sure all the wives will agree with me that they do deserve a new sari for the yummy food that is being prepared on this special day!

The special dishes that are done on this day are : Tendle & Bibbe Upkari (Gerkins & Tender cashew curry), Chana Ghashi with Kadgi (Chick Pea curry with tender jack-fruit), Madagane (sweet dish prepared out of Split chick pea and coconut milk), Dali-Thoy etc. These are the main ones that are prepared in every household.

Watch out for the “Padvo” recipes in my next post.

Source

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gudi_Padwa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchangam

For more details on customs and rituals:

http://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/festivals/gudhipadwa/