History of Ugadi – Yugadi – Telugu and Kannada New Year Day

Ugadi or YugadiUgadi is the New Year’s Day for the people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It is also celebrated in Maharashtra as Gudi Padwa. Ugadi 2010 date is March 16. Sindhi people observe the same day as Sindhi New Year’s Day, Cheti Chand. Since the Saka calendar begins with the month of Chaitra, Ugadi is celebrated on the first day of the New Year.

Legends of Ugadi – Yugadi:
The Yugadi or Ugadi observance has many legends or stories around it. Some of them are accurately describe the scene.

When KaliYuga has started – the beginning of KaliYuga:
“Yesmin Krishno DivamVyataha, Tasmat eeva pratipannam Kaliyugam”, these Sanskrit verses of the great Sage Vedavyasa explains that Kali Yuga has started at the time when Lord Krishna passed away. Yugadi, pronounced as Ugadi, represents the beginning of a new Yuga (era). Some famous historians of India date the starting of KaliYuga to 3102BC.

Who Celebrate Ugadi or Yugadi?
Ugadi is the New Year day for the Hindus between the rivers – Vishyas and Kaveri, eventually the people of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The South Indian calendar follows the procedure of Salivahana era (Salivahana Saka). It starts its count from the date when the Shatavahana King, Shalivahana established his empire.

King Shalivahana is also called as Gautamiputra Shatakarni. The Southern India Calendar (the era of Shalivahana Shaka) counts its years starting from the year 78 AD of the Gregorian calendar. Hence the year 2000 AD marks the year 1922 of the Salivahana Saka.

The Observance of Ugadi – Yugadi Celebration:

As per the Lunar or Hindu calendar, yugadi corresponds to the first day of the first half of the Chaitra month, Chaitra Shudhdha Padyami (Chaitra Sudda Prathami), which usually comes in March or April months of the regular Gregorian calendar.