2022 Ugadi | Yugadi

Ugadi or Yugadi is celebrated as the first day of the year by the people of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. On this day new Samvatsara, which is a cycle of sixty years, starts. All sixty Samvatsara are identified by a unique name.

Ugadi on Saturday, April 2, 2022

Ugadi is celebrated as Gudi Padwa by the people of Maharashtra. Both Ugadi and Gudi Padwa are celebrated on the same day.

Ugadi is the new year according to the Luni-Solar calendar. Luni-Solar calendars consider the position of the Moon and the position of the Sun to divide the year into months and days. The counterpart of the Luni-Solar calendar is the Solar calendar which considers only the position of the Sun to divide the year into months and days. Because of that Hindu new year is celebrated twice in the year with different names and at two different times of the year. The Hindu new year based on the Solar calendar is known as Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Bihu in Assam, Vaisakhi in Punjab, Pana Sankranti in Orissa and Naba Barsha in West Bengal.

The day begins with a ritual oil bath followed by prayers. Oil bath and eating Neem leaves are must rituals suggested by scriptures. North Indians don’t celebrate Ugadi but start nine days Chaitra Navratri Puja on the same day and also eat Neem with Mishri on the very first day of Navratri.