Your Cart
All About Ugadi Festival
Ugadi is a festival that is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the Southern states of India, especially in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. It marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Hindu calendar, and it is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra month.
During Ugadi, people exchange greetings and gifts with each other, and indulge in traditional food items and sweets. In this blog post, we will explore the various Ugadi sweets that are a must-try during this festival.
5 things to know about Ugadi
1. Significance:
Ugadi is derived from the Sanskrit words “Yuga” (age) and “Adi” (beginning). The festival signifies the beginning of a new age or cycle. It is believed that Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, started the creation process on this day. Ugadi is also associated with the legend of Lord Vishnu’s incarnation as Matsya, the fish.
2. Date:
Ugadi falls on the first day of Chaitra month, which usually falls in late March or early April according to the Gregorian calendar. The date of Ugadi is determined by the Hindu lunar calendar.
3. Celebrations:
On Ugadi, people clean their homes, decorate them with mango leaves and flowers, and prepare traditional dishes and sweets. They also wear new clothes and exchange greetings and gifts with each other. Ugadi is also a time to seek blessings from the gods and goddesses for a prosperous New Year.
4. Traditional Rituals:
One of the important rituals of Ugadi is the preparation of Ugadi Pachadi, a dish made with six different tastes – sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy, and astringent. The six tastes represent the different experiences that one may encounter in the New Year. The Pachadi is made with neem flowers, jaggery, tamarind, raw mango, salt, and chilli powder. Another important ritual is the reading of the Panchanga, an astrological almanac that predicts the fortunes of the New Year.
5. Regional Variations:
While Ugadi is celebrated with similar enthusiasm across Southern India, there are some regional variations in the way the festival is celebrated. For example, in Andhra Pradesh, people decorate their homes with rangolis and make traditional dishes like Bobbatlu, Holige, and Boorelu. In Karnataka, people prepare dishes like Obbattu, Puliyogare, and Payasa. In Telangana, people prepare dishes like Pachadi, Purnam Burelu, and Bhakshalu.
How to Celebrate Ugadi?
- Cleaning and Decorating: Ugadi is a time to clean one’s home and decorate it with mango leaves and flowers. The cleaning process symbolizes the removal of negativity and the preparation for new beginnings. The decoration with mango leaves and flowers signifies the arrival of spring and the abundance of nature.
- Traditional Dishes and Sweets: Ugadi is a time to prepare traditional dishes and sweets. One of the important dishes prepared on Ugadi is the Ugadi Pachadi, a dish made with six different tastes – sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy, and astringent. The six tastes represent the different experiences that one may encounter in the New Year. Other traditional dishes include Bobbatlu, Holige, Obbattu, Puliyogare, Purnam Burelu, and Bhakshalu.
3. Dressing Up: Ugadi is a time to wear new clothes and dress up. Wearing new clothes signifies new beginnings and is considered auspicious.
4. Panchanga Shravanam: On Ugadi, it is customary to read the Panchanga, an astrological almanac that predicts the fortunes of the New Year. The Panchanga Shravanam is performed by a priest or an elderly member of the family. The Panchanga Shravanam is believed to provide insights into the future and help in making informed decisions.
5. Exchange of Greetings and Gifts: Ugadi is a time to exchange greetings and gifts with family, friends, and colleagues. It is customary to exchange mango leaves and neem leaves, which are considered auspicious. People also exchange sweets and gifts as a way of expressing love and affection.
Ugadi Traditional Sweets
1. Bobbatlu:
Bobbatlu, also known as Puran Poli, is a sweet flatbread that is popular in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. It is made by stuffing a mixture of jaggery and chana dal (Bengal gram) inside a dough made of flour, ghee, and water. The stuffed dough is then rolled out into a flatbread and cooked on a griddle.
Bobbatlu is a must-have sweet during Ugadi, and it is usually served with ghee or milk.
2. Holige:
Holige is a sweet flatbread that is popular in Karnataka, and it is similar to Bobbatlu. However, the stuffing used in Holige is made of coconut and jaggery, and the dough is made of maida (all-purpose flour) instead of wheat flour.
Holige is a delicious sweet that is usually served hot with ghee or milk.
3. Boorelu:
Boorelu, also known as Poornam Boorelu, is a traditional Andhra sweet that is made during festivals and special occasions. It is made by soaking chana dal in water for a few hours and then grinding it into a paste. The paste is then mixed with jaggery, cardamom powder, and coconut and rolled into small balls.
The balls are then dipped in a batter made of rice flour, urad dal flour, and water and deep-fried until golden brown.
4. Bellam Garelu:
Bellam Garelu is a popular Andhra sweet that is made by soaking urad dal and rice for a few hours and then grinding them into a thick batter. The batter is then mixed with jaggery, cardamom powder, and salt and fried in oil until golden brown.
Bellam Garelu is a crunchy and sweet snack that is usually served during breakfast or as an evening snack.
5. Chakkara Pongal:
Chakkara Pongal, also known as Sweet Pongal, is a traditional South Indian sweet that is made during festivals and special occasions. It is made by cooking rice and moong dal in milk and jaggery until it becomes thick and creamy.
Chakkara Pongal is a delicious sweet that is usually served hot with ghee and nuts.
6. Paramannam:
Paramannam is a traditional Andhra sweet that is made by cooking rice and milk with jaggery until it becomes thick and creamy. It is usually served as a dessert after a meal.
Paramannam can be made in different flavors by adding dry fruits, nuts, and cardamom powder.
7. Payasam:
Payasam, also known as Kheer, is a sweet dish that is popular in all parts of India. It is made by cooking rice, vermicelli, or sago in milk with sugar and cardamom powder.
Payasam can be made in different flavors by adding dry fruits, nuts, and saffron.
In conclusion, Ugadi is a festival that is incomplete without sweets. The above-mentioned Ugadi sweets are a must-try during this festival, if you are a Bangalorean, try these delicious in Halwai Sweets and Snacks and they are sure to leave you craving for more.
Reference:
Ugadi – Ring in Joy this New Year
https://astrotalk.com/astrology-blog/ugadi/
Happy Ugadi
https://www.india.com/travel/articles/how-is-ugadi-celebrated-in-andhra-pradesh-3235093/
Visit Our Other Blogs:
How Corporate Gifting Can Sweeten your Relationship with Employees
Diwali Sweets to add some sweetness to your life
Celebrate this Independence Day with these Delectable Sweets
Importance of Gifting Sweets in Corporate
Things Must Know Before Buying Sugar Sweets Online