Festivals
and Events
Ugadi
Ugadi is the New Year's Day for the people of Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka and Maharashtra. While this festival is known as
Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the same is celebrated
as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra. It falls generally in the month
of March.
According to the Hindu Calendar, Ugadi is
celebrated on the first day of the bright fortnight ('Shukla
Paksha') of the first month ('Chaitra') in the first season
of the year i.e., spring ('Vasanta'). This day is celebrated
as the New Year Day in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
and Maharashtra. While it is called Ugadi or Yugadi in Andhra
Pradesh and Karnataka, it is celebrated as Gudi Padva in Maharashtra.
The word ‘Ugadi’ is derived from the Sanskrit
word ‘Yugadi’, which means ‘beginning of
a new Yuga or era’. Legend has it that this was the
day on which Lord Krishna shed His body, signalling the end
of the Dwapara Yuga and the commencement of the Kali Yuga.
It is also believed that Brahma created the universe on this
day.
On Ugadi, it is the tradition to begin the
day by partaking of a special preparation known as ‘Ugadi
Pacchadi’. Six ingredients go into the making of this
dish, each one representative of the six tastes – sweet,
sour, spicy, salty, savoury and bitter. This reminds us to
accept both the joys and sorrows that life offers us with
equal mindedness.
Excerpts from
Bhagawan’s Discourses:
“There is no need to wait for a new
year to bring new tidings. Every moment is new. Many are wondering
what troubles and losses the New Year will bring. But the
year is not responsible for all our troubles and difficulties.
Only our conduct is responsible. If our actions are good,
the results will be good. Bad actions lead to bad consequences.
People think that good and bad are related to time. It is
not that way. Their thoughts are the cause. Hence, they should
develop good thoughts and do good deeds. They should cherish
good feelings and associate with good people. People should
realize the preciousness of Time. People waste most of the
time available. This is utterly wrong. Time should be used
always for right purposes. That is the foremost duty of every
man. Waste of time is waste of life. The Lord of Time protects
those who take refuge in Him, even against the Lord of Death,
Kala. Time takes its revenge on those who misuse it. A nation's
prosperity is dependent on how people use their time in the
performance of good actions”.
- Divine Discourse: 7 April 1997
“Today is Ugadi, the beginning of the
New Year. Since ancient times, man has celebrated many Ugadis,
but he is yet to give up bad qualities. True Ugadi is the
day when man gives up bad qualities, fills his heart with
love and takes to the path of sacrifice. Do not limit the
celebration of Ugadi to merely putting on new clothes and
partaking of delicious items. Today you may wear a new shirt,
but how long will it remain new. Tomorrow it becomes old.
Nobody reads the same newspaper everyday. Today's newspaper
becomes a waste paper tomorrow. Our life is like a newspaper.
Once you have finished reading a newspaper, you do not like
to read it again and again. You have been given this birth
which is like a newspaper, and have gone through varied experiences
of pleasure and pain. Enough is enough. Do not ask for one
more newspaper, i.e., another birth. You should pray, "Oh
God! You have given me this 'newspaper' and I have gone through
the experiences of this life. I don't want to have another
birth.
On this day of Ugadi, take a firm resolve
to purify your heart. Past is past. It cannot be retrieved.
When you are walking on the road, you should look at the path
ahead of you. What is the point in looking behind? Likewise,
there is no point in brooding over the past. Future is not
certain. What is the guarantee that you will be alive until
tomorrow? So, do not worry about your future. Live in the
present. It is not ordinary present. It is omnipresent, meaning
the results of past as well as the future are contained in
it. So, when you make proper use of the present, you can be
rest assured that your future is safe and secure”.
- Divine Discourse: April 13, 2002
“We will achieve victory in every walk
of life when we foster good thoughts and good deeds. Today
is the first day of the New year. From today onwards, all
devotees must undertake his holy task. Past is past. Do not
think of the future, because it is not in our hands. What
is the guarantee that we will live until tomorrow? Therefore,
this present time is very important. Make good use of it.
Do not go against your inner self. That is what I tell my
children, the students here, "Follow the master".
Who is your master? Your inner self is your master. So there
is no need for anyone else; follow your own inner self. That
is your God. That is your happiness. That is your wealth.
That is your peace. Happiness and peace are not outside”.
- Divine Discourse: 20 March 1996
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