UGADI - THE HINDU NEW YEAR (Significance - Customs & Traditions)
Ugadi significance... Ugadi is basically a Hindu festival signifying the time element of the Universe celebrated as a New Year Day coinciding with Chaitra Masam (the first lunar month), Sukla paksha (bright fortnight), Prathama Thithi (first lunar day) as per Lunar Calendar called Chandramana. It is a festival mainly celebrated in the southern part of India and Maharashtra. In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka it is celebrated as Ugadi while in Maharashtra it is called as Gudi Padwa. In all the three states it is celebrated as per Chandramana. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala it is celebrated as per Sowramana (Solar calendar) on the day Sun enters Mesha Raasi (Aries sign) in the zodiac called as Mesha Sankranthi that generally occurs during the months of March/April every year that is referred to as Solar New Year (Souramana Ugadi). As per Chandramana a month is denoted by the star present on the full moon day. For example the month in which Moon is at or nearer to Chitta star that month i...