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Dear all,
Happy new year to you all.
This year Ugaadi is celebrated on Monday, April 7th. Ugaadi marks the beginning of the New Year for the Kannada, Telugu and Marathi communities.
Vishu will be celebrated on Sunday, April 13th. This day marks the start of the New Year for the Tamil, Malayalam and Thulu communities.
The name of the New Year is Sarvadhaari. According to our Panchaangam (Almanac), the New Year is 5110th year since start of Kali Yuga. Another interesting information from the Panchaangam is that it has been nearly 2 Billion Years since the start of Srishti. (Some geological studies do estimate the age of earth around 4 Billion Years)
As many of you know, Ugaadi is based on the lunar calendar, starting on the Sukla Paksha Prathamaa (the first day following Amaavasya). Some of you may be celebrating Ugaadi on Sunday, April 6th, depending on the Panchaangam you follow.
Vishu is based on the solar calendar and starts when Sun moves into Mesha Raasi. This year Sun moves into Mesha Raasi at 8.50 am EDT on April 13.
One of the common traditions followed on Ugaadi as well as Vishu is to listen to the reading of the Panchaangam. It is believed that the listening to the Panchaanga Patanam on this day mitigates the negative results and increases the prosperity in the year ahead.
It is also customary in many traditions to prepare food items that are sweet, sour, hot and bitter on the New Year Day, signifying the fact that life is mixture of good and bad times and one should be prepared to face them with the same spirit.
Another tradition that is followed, in Tamil Nadu and Kerala is 'Vishu Kani Kaanal'. A tray of different fruits and thamboolam is placed in front of a mirror in the Pooja room, the night before the New Year Day. The mirror is often decorated with jewelry. Fruits and jewelry represent sweetness, nicety and prosperity. On the morning of the New Year, everyone in the family goes to the Pooja room, looks himself or herself in the mirror and does a namaskaram to Swami and elders.
Planetary Naayakas:
The King for the New Year is Moon. Sun is both the minister and commander-in-chief. Based on the moon being the king for the year, there will be lot of rains and prosperity in the world, people will be happy and generous.
We wish you all a Year of Happiness, Peace, Prosperity and Good Thoughts and Deeds. Please try to follow as much of your cultural and family traditions during the New Year celebrations and introduce them to your children.
Hari Om!
Wish you all The Best Happy and Prosperous New Year again.
Muralidhara Bhatta
Note: If possible, do attend such events in your neighborhood Temple or Community Gatherings. |
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