Ugadi and Sri Rama Navami

Ugadi (Yuga Aadi....start of new life) is the beginning of a new Hindu lunar Calendar year. Its the start of a new year for the people of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. We celebrate Ugadi with great joy and happiness. We do the puja and wish everyone good luck in the year. We have a myth or belief that whatever we do on that day we continue doing it the whole year.

For Ugadi we believe that we experinece life as a smooth blend of six flavors (shadruchulu) viz. bitter, sweet, tart, sour, hot, and salt. The Ugadi pachadi comprises all the six flavors. We enjoy the tatse of Ugadi pachadi first thing in the morning before even a cup of coffee :-)

I like the Ugadi Pachadi very much. Its made from the raw mangoes for which this is the perfect season ie spring season. Also its the season for Neem Tree which has very good medicinal values and which makes the air healthy...

Starting from Ugadi the celebration continues till 9 days and this 9 days function concludes with Sri Rama Navami, the celebration of Sri Rama’s birthday, Pattabhishekam and the Kalyanam.

Sri Rama Navami is a Hindu festival celebrated all over the India. In Andhra Pradesh it is celebrated with a great devotion in Seeta Rama Temple at Bhadrachalam of Khammam district as " Sri Seeta Rama Kalyana Mahotsav "

As offering of Naivedyam to lord Sri Rama " Vadapappu " and " Panakam " are prepared. In temples panakam is served as Prasadam.

Ugadi Pachadi:

Ingredients:

• Neem Flower (vepa Puvvu)
• Raw Mango ( 1 cup pices)
• Sugarcane - 1 small piece
• Green Chillies - 1 No.
• Tamarind pulp
• Banana
• Salt to taste

Method: In the tamarind pulp add the neem flower and cut mango pieces. To this add peices of banana, sugarcane, green chillies and salt to taste. Offer it as prasadam to god and taste it.

Panakam:

Ingredients:

• Jaggery (powdered) - 2 tbsp.
• Water - 2 cups
• Ginger - small piece
• Cardommom powdered - 2 Nos.
• Black Pepper (crushed) - 4 Nos.

Preparation: Mix the jaggery in water and dissolve it well. Add the ginger, cardommom and ground black pepper. Serve it chilled. It tastes very good.

Vada Pappu:

Soak 1 cup of Moong Dal. (Pesarapappu) in 3 cups of water for half an hour. Dtrain out excess water and offer it as naivedyam to Lord Sri Ram along with Panakam.

You can add some shredded coconut, shredded mango or Lemon Juice, salt and green chillies to the Vada pappu and eat it. It tastes really nice.