Ugadi

 Ugadi is the New Year's Day for the people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka all over the world.Even though all Brahmins celebrate ugadi as a New year's day, the dates and months vary among them. Some calculate according to the solar system, and others according to the lunar system; with the result that despite all being Brahmins the New Year differs among different sectors.Thus Telugu New Year's Day is celebrated on 30th March and Tamil new Year's Day on April 14th.This year ugadi falls on Monday, the 23rd March 2012.

Ugadi is celebrated on the "Shukla Paksha" of the first month of "Chaitra Masa" i.e. during the Spring month('Vasanta-Rutu').The onset of spring marks a beginning of new life with plants acquiring new life. The Panchangam is calculated using Ugadi or the Spring season as the first month.

Ugadi is the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar with a change in the moon's orbit. On this day, people go to temples, they perform puja, abhishekam, homam and chant mantras.People buy clothes and sweets and distribute among friends and relatives.The "New Year" is celebrated in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh as "Ugadi".While in Maharashtra it is known as "Gudipadava".

On Ugadi day, people wake up early in the morning and take a head bath.They decorate, the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves.People worship God invoking his blessings before the start off 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 and business.

On Ugadi day every one should make a resolve to themself that they will face whatever happens in this year, accepting it with good grace and welcoming everything. Consider everything as for one's own good. Men should rise above sorrow and happiness, success and failure. This is the foremost message of the Ugadi festival.