Ugadi Festival Date 2024, Time, Puja Vidhi, Muhurat and Importance

Ugadi: Celebrating the New Year in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh

Ugadi, or Yugadi as it is alternatively known, is a customary celebration deeply rooted in the southern regions of India. Specifically, it is commemorated with great fervor in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. This remarkable occasion signifies the commencement of a fresh year as per the Hindu lunisolar calendar. The term “Ugadi” finds its origins in the Sanskrit language, where “yuga” denotes age or era, and “adi” refers to the beginning. The festivities surrounding Ugadi are brimming with exuberance and delight, embodying notions of new beginnings, prosperity, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

Yugadi, also acknowledged as Samvatsaradi or Ugadi, heralds the advent of the Hindu calendar year. Its jubilations unfold across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Goa in India. Ugadi takes place on the initial day of the Chaitra month in the Hindu calendar, typically manifesting in late March or early April. The merriments encompass a multitude of customs such as crafting intricate floor designs, adorning doorways with fragrant mango leaves, exchanging new garments, engaging in charitable acts, relishing oil massages and invigorating baths, visiting sacred temples, and preparing and sharing a delectable concoction known as pachadi. Pachadi symbolizes an eager anticipation of diverse experiences that lie ahead in the upcoming year. It is worth noting that Ugadi is also celebrated under the moniker Souramana Ugadi or Mesha Sankranti by adherents of the Souramana calendar system. The significance of this festivity transcends time and has become an integral part of the historical and cultural fabric. Moreover, it is celebrated as the New Year in Maharashtra, where it is referred to as Gudi Padwa. Mauritius even recognizes Ugadi as a national public holiday, underscoring its influence and reach.

Ugadi 2024 Date in India: 9th April, Tuesday

Ugadi 2024 Overview

Ugadi 2024 India Calendar

Celebrate Ugadi 2024 with this special India Calendar; featuring a unique design for each month and special cultural highlights.

Significance of Ugadi Festival

Ugadi holds immense cultural and religious significance for the people of South India. It is believed that Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe according to Hindu mythology, started his creation on this day. Therefore, Ugadi is considered the first day of the new cosmic cycle. It is also believed that Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Rama on this day, making it even more auspicious.

The festival is not only a time for celebration but also for reflection and introspection. It is an occasion to leave behind the past year’s failures and shortcomings and embrace new opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Ugadi is seen as a time to set new goals, make resolutions, and seek blessings for a prosperous future.

Ugadi 2024 Time in India

In the year 2024, the auspicious festival of Ugadi will be celebrated in India. This festival marks the beginning of the Telugu Shaka Samvat year 1946. On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, people will come together to observe and honor this significant occasion. The Pratipada Tithi, which is the first day of the lunar month, will commence at 11:50 PM on April 8, 2024, and conclude at 08:30 PM on April 9, 2024. During this time, people will partake in various customs and traditions to usher in the new year and seek blessings for prosperity and good fortune.

When is Ugadi 2024 in AP?

Rituals and Traditions of Ugadi

Ugadi is celebrated with various rituals and traditions that have been passed down through generations. The preparations for the festival begin well in advance. People clean their homes thoroughly and decorate them with fresh mango leaves and colorful rangoli patterns at the entrance. This is believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.

On the day of Ugadi, people wake up early in the morning and take a ritual bath before donning new clothes. They then visit temples to seek blessings from the deities. Special prayers and rituals are performed to invoke the blessings of Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. Devotees offer flowers, fruits, and traditional sweets as a mark of devotion.

One of the highlights of Ugadi is the preparation and consumption of a special dish called “Ugadi Pachadi.” This unique dish is made by combining six different flavors – sweet, sour, bitter, salty, spicy, and tangy. Each flavor represents the different experiences of life – happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust. The Ugadi Pachadi symbolizes the acceptance of life’s various flavors and teaches people to face both joy and sorrow with equanimity.

Cultural Celebrations of Ugadi

Ugadi is not just a religious festival; it is also a time for cultural celebrations. People come together to participate in various cultural activities such as music, dance performances, and traditional games. In some regions, processions are organized where people dress up in vibrant traditional attire and carry idols of deities on beautifully decorated chariots. These processions are accompanied by music, dance, and fireworks, creating a festive atmosphere.

Another important aspect of Ugadi celebrations is the exchange of gifts and greetings among family members, friends, and neighbors. It is customary to visit loved ones and seek their blessings for a prosperous year ahead. People exchange traditional gifts such as clothes, sweets, and fruits as a gesture of goodwill and love.

Best Message for Ugadi 2024

• As Ugadi brings a new year for us, I am sending my best wishes and love to you.
• May all your dreams come true this year and things go as you want them to go. May this New Year herald the advent of prosperity for you and your family. Happy Ugadi!
• May the flavour of raw mangoes, raw neem, and jaggery remove all bitterness and add sweet flavours to your life. Happy Ugadi!
• Fortunate is the one who has learned to Admire but not to envy. Good Wishes for a joyous Ugadi and a Happy New Year with plenty of Peace and Prosperity.
• Long live the tradition of Hindu culture and as the generations have passed by Hindu culture is getting stronger and stronger let’s keep it up. Best Wishes for Ugadi.
• Let’s put the shadows of the past behind and look forward to a new beginning. Wishing you a Ugadi full of fun and frolic! May lights triumph over darkness.
• May peace transcend the earth. Happy Ugadi!
• This Ugadi, I wish you a life full of laughter, joy and fulfilment.
• Happy Ugadi from me and mine to you and yours. May you have a wonderful year ahead.