Ugadi pacchadi speaks of life’s offerings

HYDERABAD: The Hindu New Year, Ugadi 2023, will be celebrated in Telugu states on March 22 (Wednesday). Yugadi or Ugadi is derived from the Sanskrit words yuga (age) and adi (beginning), and literally means 'the beginning of a new age'.

This Indian festival that marks the arrival of joy, happiness, hope, and light would be incomplete without the significance of Ugadi Pachadi. Ugadi Pachadi' is the most important aspect of the Ugadi Festival since its recipe symbolizes the six emotions of life, such as sweet, tangy, bitter, and sour.

The Ugadi Pachadi, which includes an array of significant flavours, sends out a powerful message to us to start the new year with all of the key parts that shape life. Ugadi Pachadi emphasises that life cannot be constant and that we must welcome and embrace a range of happenings.

Ugadi pachadi is prepared with tamarind paste, neem flowers, brown sugar or sweet jaggery, salt, and first raw mangoes of the season. This Ugadi Pachadi, which is also offered to God as Naivedyam for Ugadi, symbolizes the need to taste and digest all kinds of emotions and experiences. It also implies that we should treat all emotions equally.

Find out the significance of each ingredient in Ugadi Pachadi

Neem flowers –The bitter taste of neem flowers represents sadness and bitter experiences

Image Source: Farmizen

Sweet – Sweet taste comes from jaggery symbolizes happiness and sweet experiences

Image Source: Farmizen

Tamarind - The tamarind's sour flavour represents disappointment

Image Source: Farmizen

Salt - The salty taste comes from salt and signifies the fear of the unknown phase

Image Source: Farmizen

Raw Mango – Tangy flavour that comes from raw mangoes; it represents life's unexpected twists and turns

Image Source: Farmizen

Chilli - The red, spicy chilli represents life's anger and outbursts

Image Source: Farmizen