Healthy Indian wishes all its readers a very Happy New Year! Happy Ugadi!
Celebrated across the Indian sub-continent, by Andhras/Telanganas (as Ugadi), Kannadigas (as Yugadi), Maharashtrians (as Gudi Padwa), Sindhis (as Cheti Chand), Kashmiris (as Navreh), and Manipuris (as Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba), this vibrant festival falls on the first day of the Chaitra month and heralds the beginning of the New year according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar. Countries like the Indonesian island of Bali that follow Hindu traditions celebrate the day following Hari Raya Nyepi as New Year’s Day as well.
Ugadi: A Mouthful/Spoonful of Surprise!
The highlight of the festival is the Ugadi Pacchadi (chutney) or Bevu-Bella (neem-jaggery) – a salty-bitter-sweet-tangy concoction, which awakens the palate, and truly jolts your senses! The myriad rich tastes of this delicacy tickles and lingers on the tongue for a long time leaving a medley of flavors. The Shadruchulu – meaning six tastes simply wrap up the essence of life! Bevu-Bella stands for 6 emotions of human life and are believed to be guiding principles for good living.
The Wisdom in Ugadi Pacchadi
- Bitter taste of Neem flowers symbolizing Sadness: Human life cannot be one non-stop happy ride. You have to accept the bitterness that Life presents to you from time to time.
- Sweetness in Jaggery symbolizing Happiness: Savor the happy times you encounter in your life – however small or big but be humble and remember “this too shall pass”.
- Heat in Green Chili Pepper symbolizing Anger: Many a time, we let anger be our guiding emotion. On this Ugadi day, swallow your anger in the form of spice and change your perspective on life.
- Saltiness in Salt symbolizing Fear: Shed fear that prevents you from venturing out of your “comfort zone” and that which can hold you back from achieving new goals.
- Sourness in Tamarind symbolizing Disgust: Don’t let the humdrum of daily life and the miseries around you leave your embittered with a sour taste in your mouth.
- Tanginess in Raw Mango symbolizing Surprise: Life is full of surprises at every bend; take them in your stride!
Ugadi Pacchadi Recipe
Ugadi Pacchadi has 6 fresh ingredients and is very easy to make. If you want to try it, here’s the recipe:
• Tamarind juice (soak one golf ball sized tamarind in water to make 1 cup tamarind juice)
• Jaggery – half cup grated
• Raw mango – 1 medium size, chopped to 1″ cubes
• Neem flowers – 1/4 cup (use 1 tsp. neem powder if you can’t find flowers)
• Green chili pepper – 1 medium chopped
• Water – as required
• Salt – to taste
Method:
In a bowl, thoroughly mix tamarind juice, jaggery, chopped raw mangoes, green chilies, neem flowers (or neem powder), salt with water. Serve small quantities.
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Note: We would like to thank Shailaja Lakkaraju for providing material for this blog article
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Lovely article…brought back nostalgic memories!
It certainly does. We had 3 huge mango trees in our back yard, and two large neem trees in the front, so most of the ingredients for the pacchadi was already available in-house. My sister and I would string mango leaves on a jute thread which my dad then strung on top of the front door. I dreaded the mandatory bevu-bella when I was younger, but as I got into my teenage years, I looked forward to it. I wonder if the combination of ingredients has Ayurvedic origins and significance.