"Happy Ugadhi Subaganchulu
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 - 17:22
TODAY, 500,000 Telugus in Malaysia and 77 million around the globe celebrate the Telugu new year Ugadhi. Since we are promoting 1Malaysia, I feel it will be good for Malaysians to know about each other's cultures.
Ugadhi, as the name Yug-Adi suggests, is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Telugu year. This day is celebrated as new year's day by the Telugus.
The most prevailing aspect of the Ugadhi celebration is preparing Ugadhi Pacchadi comprising six tastes — jaggery (sweet), salt (salty), neem flowers (bitter), tamarind (sour), raw mango pieces (astringent) and chili powder (pungent). Food that has all these six tastes has most of the nutrition needed by human body.
On Ugadhi day, people wake up at about 5am and have a bath.
Being the new year, it demands kith and kin to wear new clothes. They pray for their health, wealth and prosperity. Ugadhi is also the most auspicious time to start new ventures.
The women of the house will prepare Ugadi Pacchadi (Ugadhi Sammelan) and distribute it to all members of the family.
It is customary to go to the temple in the evening where the pandit recites the Panchanga Sravanam. The yearly forecast for the country as a whole and for the people, based on Raasis, will be predicted.
During the celebrations, every Telugu should take a vow to rethink their actions and conduct in life. Let us use the Ugadhi celebration as a stepping stone to discard individualism and keep working for the benefit and advancement of society.
Happy Ugadhi Subaganchulu (in Telugu).
N.V. SUBBAROW
BAYAN BARU, PENANG"
