Ugadi: A Celebration Through Spoorthi's Eyes

A fresh aroma of jasmine flowers mingled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee, Spoorthi woke up to the last day of the year. With a twinkle in her eye and a smile that could light up the darkest night, Spoorthi eagerly awaited the arrival of the New Year festival of Ugadi.

As the day drew closer to Ugadi, Spoorthi could feel the excitement building in the air. She helped her mother clean every nook and corner of their home, symbolizing the act of starting anew.

This Ugadi was even more special because her grandma (ajji) had come from village to celebrate the new year with them.

In the night as the stars twinkled overhead, Spoorthi reflected on the significance of Ugadi - a time to embrace new beginnings, cherish old memories, and look forward to the adventures that lay ahead. With gratitude in her heart and hope in her eyes, Spoorthi welcomed the New Year with open arms, knowing that with each sunrise came the promise of endless possibilities and boundless joy.

Suddenly a thought occurred, and Spoorthi ran down to the veranda where her ajji was folding the betel leaf, nuts which the elders have post dinner. Spoorthi laid down placing her head on lap of grandma as she continued to fold. Spoorthi looked up and in all her curiosity asked her grandma "Ajji, why do we celebrate Ugadi?", "Why do we have Bevu (neem flowers), bella (jaggery) during Ugadi ?"

With a twinkle in her eye and a smile that spoke of a lifetime of wisdom, Ajji began her tale.

"Ugadi," she began, "marks the beginning of a new year according to the lunar calendar, symbolizing the cycle of life and the eternal renewal of hope and prosperity. It is a time to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new with open arms."

Spoorthi listened intently as her grandmother continued, "Bevu, bella," Spoorthi's grandmother repeated with a smile, holding up the bitter neem leaves and the sweet jaggery in her hands. Spoorthi looked on with curiosity, eager to learn more about this intriguing tradition. "Bevu, bella," her grandmother explained, "is a symbolic ritual that we perform during Ugadi, the festival of the New Year. It signifies the balance of opposites in life - the bitter and the sweet, the challenges and the joys."

Spoorthi nodded, intrigued by the deeper meaning behind the simple act of eating neem leaves and jaggery together. "But why do we do it, Ajji?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Grandma chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with wisdom. "Well, my dear," she began, "the bitter neem leaves represent the challenges and hardships that we encounter in life. They remind us that life is not always easy, and that we must face difficulties with courage and resilience."

"And the sweet jaggery?" Spoorthi prompted, eager to unravel the mystery.

"The sweet jaggery," Grandma continued, "represents the joys and blessings that life has to offer. It reminds us to savour the moments of happiness and contentment, and to be grateful for the abundance that surrounds us."

Spoorthi nodded thoughtfully, her young mind absorbing the profound wisdom of her grandmother's words. "So, by eating bevu and bella together," she concluded, "we acknowledge the duality of life and the importance of finding balance between the bitter and the sweet."

"Exactly, my dear," Grandma replied, her smile warm and tender. "Ugadi is a time for reflection, renewal, and gratitude. As we partake in the bevu-bella tradition, may we remember to embrace all aspects of life with open hearts and open minds, knowing that each experience, whether bitter or sweet, is a gift to be cherished."

With a newfound understanding of the bevu-bella tradition, Spoorthi went to sleep looking forward to the morning and to be able to share this wisdom with her friends the next day.

On the morning of Ugadi, Spoorthi woke up to the sound of bells ringing and birds chirping, signalling the start of a new beginning. At the entrance of their home, a beautiful toran adorned the doorway, welcoming guests with its vibrant colours and fragrant foliage. Mango leaves, symbolizing prosperity and abundance, intertwined with neem leaves, representing purification and renewal, creating a harmonious blend of tradition and symbolism.

Spoorthi watched in awe as her parents meticulously arranged the toran, carefully selecting the freshest flowers and the most verdant leaves to adorn their doorway. With each delicate touch, they infused the toran with the spirit of Ugadi, a celebration of new beginnings and the promise of a fruitful year ahead.

As the final touches were made, Spoorthi's home transformed into a haven of beauty and grace, a reflection of the joy and blessings that Ugadi brought to their lives.

She hurriedly got dressed in her newest traditional attire, a green and red mixed silk blouse, skirt which her grandmother (ajji) brought her from the village, eager to join her family in the day's festivities.

The aroma of freshly prepared sweets and the sound of laughter filled the air as preparations for the celebration were in full swing. And amidst all the hustle and bustle, there was one person whose presence brought an extra layer of warmth and wisdom to the festivities - Spoorthi's beloved ajji.

Spoorthi's family gathered together in their pooja room, adorned with fragrant flowers and lit incense, ready to perform in the age-old ritual of Panchanga Shravana. They sat in eager anticipation, awaiting the arrival of Spoorthi's father and the temple priest.

As they took their place before the sacred scriptures, they begin to recite the Panchanga, or the Hindu calendar, for the upcoming year. With each passing month, they detailed the auspicious days, festivals, and celestial alignments that will shape the year ahead, offering blessings and guidance for each member of the family.

Spoorthi listened intently as the elder's words fill the room, her heart swelling with excitement for the adventures and opportunities that await in the coming year. She eagerly took note of the auspicious dates and festivals, knowing that each holds the promise of joy, prosperity, and spiritual growth.

With Panchanga Shravana complete, Spoorthi's father performed the aarti to the main deity of the house lord Balaji and other idols neatly arranged in the pooja room

With a plate of neem leaves, jaggery, and fruits in hand, Spoorthi greeted her family with smiles, she joined her family in celebrating Ugadi with reverence and joy. And as she bit into the bitter neem leaves followed by the sweet jaggery, she felt a sense of connection to her culture and her roots, knowing that the flavours of bevu and bella would guide her on the journey ahead, balancing the bitter and the sweet with grace and wisdom.

Ranga the milkman's kid and Spoorthi's friend also came home to wish her. Spoorthi introduced her friend to grandma. He had bought her Ugadi pachadi and which he explained "On this auspicious day, we prepare in a special dish in our house called Ugadi Pachadi, made from neem leaves, jaggery, tamarind, raw mango, and chilli. Each ingredient represents a different flavour of life - the bitterness of the neem leaves symbolizes the challenges we face, the sweetness of the jaggery represents happiness, the sourness of the tamarind symbolizes surprises, the tanginess of the raw mango represents anticipation, and the spiciness of the chilli represents moments of adversity."

Grandma smiled, her eyes twinkling with affection for both the kids. "Eating neem leaves during Ugadi is a tradition passed down through generations," she explained. "Neem leaves are known for their medicinal properties and are believed to purify the blood and detoxify the body, preparing us for the year ahead. They also serve as a reminder to cleanse our hearts and minds of negativity, making way for new beginnings and fresh opportunities."

In the bustling kitchen of Spoorthi's home, the aroma of sweet fillings and freshly made dough wafted through the air and drew the attention of the little girl. Among the array of traditional delicacies being lovingly crafted, one stood out as a favourite - obattu, a delicious sweet flatbread filled with a rich mixture of jaggery and lentils.

Spoorthi eagerly joined her mother in the kitchen, ready to lend a hand in the preparation of this beloved treat. With flour, water, and a pinch of salt, they began to knead the dough, their hands working in rhythmic motions as they formed it into smooth, pliable balls.

As the dough rested, Spoorthi's mother turned her attention to the filling, combining jaggery, lentils, and a dash of cardamom in a large mixing bowl. With each ingredient carefully measured and mixed, the filling took on a sweet and aromatic flavour that promised to delight the taste buds of all who tasted it.

With the dough and filling prepared, Spoorthi and her mother returned to the task at hand, rolling out the dough into thin circles and placing a generous spoonful of the sweet filling in the center of each one. With practiced hands, they folded the dough over the filling, sealing it tightly to create the distinctive obattu shape.

As the obattu cooked on a hot griddle, their tantalizing aroma filled the kitchen, drawing family members from all corners of the house to gather around and eagerly await the moment they could indulge in this delicious treat.

Finally, as the obattu turned golden brown and crisp on the outside, Spoorthi's mother carefully removed them from the griddle and placed them on a plate, ready to be enjoyed by all.

Next was the turn for the very special - mavinakayi (raw mango) chitranna (rice).

The place where Spoorthi lived had a huge mango tree at the north end of the colony. With baskets of raw mangoes freshly picked from their colony tree, they set to work, their hands moving with practiced ease as they transformed the vibrant fruit into a tantalizing dish that would delight the senses.

Spoorthi's mother began by cooking fragrant rice to perfection, the grains soaking up the flavours of turmeric, mustard seeds, and curry leaves as they simmered in the pot. Meanwhile, Spoorthi herself carefully peeled and grated the mangoes, their tangy sweet aroma filling the air with the promise of summer's bounty.

With the rice cooked to fluffy perfection and the mangoes tender, Spoorthi's mother combined the two in a large mixing bowl, folding them together with a generous helping of freshly grated coconut and a sprinkling of roasted peanuts for added crunch.

But the magic of mavinakayi chitranna lay not only in its flavours, but also in its vibrant colours - the golden hues of the turmeric-stained rice mingling with the bright orange of the raw mangoes, creating a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.

As the day unfolded, Spoorthi and her family visited temple to seek blessings for a prosperous year ahead.

When they came back, mother had prepared all the dishes for the festival, the very tasty obbattu, mavinakayi (raw mango) chitranna (rice), shavige (vermicelli) payasam. Plantain leaf was laid out on the ground, Spoorthi, her father and grandma as sat down for lunch. They feasted on traditional delicacies sharing laughter and stories about how her father used celebrate the festival as a kid and grandma explained how naughty Spoorthi's mother was during childhood and gave her trouble whenever a festival came around.

In the evening, Spoorthi joined Ranga and her other friends in the local park, where a vibrant cultural extravaganza was underway. They danced to the rhythmic beats of folk music, their laughter echoing through the night sky. Some of the elders sat on the platform around the banyan tree and played cards which otherwise is not a game entertained on other days, for some reason gambling is a ritual that is accepted in the smaller town on this day.

Tired after all the song and dance Spoorthi slipped to bed quickly, she soaked her grandmother's words earlier in the day, she felt a sense of gratitude and reverence for the rich traditions that bound her family together. With Grandma's wisdom guiding her, she embraced the spirit of Ugadi with renewed vigour and determination, ready to face the challenges and joys that the new year would bring.