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Navratras, Gudi Padwa, Ugadi create a religious wave

     New Delhi/Katra (Jammu)/Mumbai: The nine-day long "Navratras", regarded as one of the holiest festivals for people in northern India, commenced here on Thursday, amidst celebrations in all major temples. Prayers, processions and musical programmes marked the festival, which symbolises the triumph of good over evil. Commemorated by all in northern India, it is celebrated to worship Goddess Durga and ahead of Ramnavami, which falls on the last day of "Navratras". "Navratras" have various names and style of celebrations in different parts of the country. For Bengalis in West Bengal, the festival is celebrated as "Durga Puja" while in the rest of the country, it is known as "Navratri". In New Delhi, devotees queued up outside the temples early in the morning to pay their obeisance to Goddess Vaishno on the first day. One of her forms is "Durga", the Goddess of power. Durga stands for "shakti" or power. In this form the Goddess is depicted as riding a raging lion, holding weapons in her hands. The devotees said that the festival signifies the worship of strength. "Navratri is celebrated because it is worship of "shakti" or strength and also purifies our soul through fasting, and gives a new direction to our lives," said Mahaveer Prasad Dimri, a priest. In Katra, near Jammu, thousands of people gathered at "Ban Ganga" temple, which is on the way to the revered hilltop shrine of Vaishno Devi. Devotees looked happy with the arrangements made for the occasion. "The special arrangement is very good. There was a huge rush in the morning but we managed to worship the "Devi" (Goddess) in comfort," said A.K. Malhotra, a devotee. In Maharashtra, people celebrated the day with "Gudi Padwa" festivities. Gudi Padwa is considered as Hindu New Year. An essential part of Gudi Padwa is the specially decorated sticks called "Gudis", which symbolise nature's bounty. In Mumbai, a huge procession was taken out with children wearing traditional dresses and participating in tableaus. "Today, we are celebrating "Gudi Padwa". This is the first day of the New Year and we pray that the New Year is full of peace and prosperity. We distribute sweets amongst neighbours," said Anekha Nirgun, a resident. In Andhra Pradesh, the day is celebrated as "Ugadi". On this day, it is the practice among the rural folk to eat what is called "Ugadi Pacchadi" (Ugadi chutney). This chutney is made from Neem (Margosa) flowers, mango juice, honey, sugar and other ingredients. Chait, the first month of the Hindu calendar, corresponds to March-April of the Gregorian calendar. The Hindu calendar has 12 months and most of the months are named after various seasons and astrological signs.
-Mar 31, 2006

Ugadi celebrated with religious fervour

     Bangalore/ Hyderabad: People of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh today celebrated Ugadi that marks the advent of New Year by taking sweet jaggery and bitter paste of neem (margosa) leaves signifying the bitter-sweet taste of life. Celebrated every year just after the new moon in the month of Chaitra, the first month of the Kannada and Telegu year, Ugadi announces the coming of spring as sun enters the Aries constellation in a supreme position. This day is also celebrated as "Gudipadava" in Maharashtra. The day begins with the devotees offering prayers followed by vedic chants. Reading of almanac is done in a very traditional way as people also have keen interest to know what is in store for them this year. People today eat a special dish called "Ugadi pachchadi" made of new jaggery, raw mango pieces and neem flowers and new tamarind - a combination of sweet, sour and bitter tastes symbolising that our life too is filled with sweet, sour and bitter events and that we should accept this as a part of our life. As far as the myth goes, Hindu Lord Brahma started creation of the universe on this day. It is also believed that the great Indian mathematician Bhaskaracharya's calculations proclaimed that the Ugadi day from sunrise is the beginning of a New Year. Since the day also marks the beginning of spring, the city of Bangalore was today filled with flowers of all bright colours and hues. From the streets to market there was fragrance of jasmine all around. The streets in Hyderabad too resembled with that of Bangalore as the houses were decorated with mango leaves and aroma of raw mango dishes were everywhere.
-Mar 30, 2006