Ougadi

Ugadi or the Telugu New Year is celebrated in the month of March. This festival is also celebrated by other Hindu traditions e.g. Marathi people as Gudi Padwa. For more information on Ougadi as a Hindu festival or for a more detailed treatise on the topic please refer to Ugadi.

During this festival people have lunch or dinner with their relatives and cultural shows are organised. Prayers and cakes distributed to relatives, friends and neighbours are also part of the festival celebrated last Saturday.

The day starts with a purifying wash – the mangala snaanam – before the sun on Saturday morning. Then, after putting on chandrika oil and massaging themselves with a paste made with cereals, the Telugus are ready to start the celebration of the creation of the Universe by the God Brahmâ.

The patchadi – a mixture of green mangoes, tamarind, lilac flowers, chilli and salt – is prepared and offered to God in a special prayer to ask for his protection. They then go to the temple where they are read the panchagam (Telegu almanac). This special day is also a time for decorative activities like the mugga, which are beautiful and colourful designs made with different seeds and spices.