Ugadi Pacchadi

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   Ugadi Subhakankshalu **** Wish You All A Very Happy Ugadi

The most significant Andhra festival is "Ugadi". Yuga means "year" and Adi means "start", so Ugadi means beginning of a new year. Ugadi marks the first day of the new year. Ugadi or Chaitra Suddha Padyami marks the onset of spring where the prosperity and well-being of life and vibrant colorful blossoms signify unmatched excitement. Jasmine clusters which spread unmatched sweet fragrance are adorned by women in the braids. Also the sweet scented flowers are offered to Gods and the fresh mango leaves are decorated across the entrance of our home to enhance the prosperity. Raw green mangoes spread their lovely aroma all around this season and the fully blossomed neem trees swing it's leaves to make the air healthy. From a fresh crop of sugarcane which jaggery is made adds a new sweet combination.

The celebration of Ugadi, is marked by a special preparation in every Andhra home called "Ugadi Pacchadi". Ugadi pacchadi (chutney sauce)  is the essence of life which means that our life is balanced with all the six tastes. A brief explanation is as follows : Tamarind is for sourness in life, Raw mango is for tanginess in life, Neem Flowers is for bitterness in life, Jaggery is for sweetness in life, Salt is for Saltiness in life, Chilli is for anger or heat in life. These are the main six ingredients that combine oneself, which is why it's called "Shadruchula Sammelanam". Shad means six, ruchulu means tastes and sammelanam means combined.... all the six tastes combined together is "Ugadi Pacchadi". If you noticed, Shadruchula Sammelanam is my site's description ( all the tastes combined ). Traditionally, the "Panchanga Sravanam" is held at temples to chant mantra's and predictions are made for the new year.

This festival is celebrated with warmth in Andhra Pradesh as "Ugadi", in Karnataka as "Yugadi" and Maharashtra as "Gudipadwa". We don't get neem flowers here, so my parents dried the neem flowers and sent us from India. Neem flowers are dried so as they last for long time.



Ingredients
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

! Tamarind Extract                             1 cup
! Raw Mango chopped                       3/4 cup
! Neem flowers                                     1/2 cup
! Jaggery                                                 1/3 cup
! Salt                                                          pinch
! Red Chilli Powder                              pinch
! Chopped grapes and bananas       1/4 cup (optional)

Method
!!!!!!!!!!!

• In a bowl take tamarind extract. To it add chopped raw mango pieces, neem flowers, jaggery, pinch of salt, pinch of red chilli powder and mix well.
• Optional chopped grapes and bananas can be added to the pacchadi.
• Combine all the flavors in a silver bowl.
• Ugadi Pacchadi is ready to be placed near God and offer prayers. Then serve everyone Ugadi Pacchadi at home.

Note: Ugadi Pacchadi should be eaten first before taking anything else for breakfast.Once offered prayers and placed near God, serve prasadam to everyone at home.

To watch the video please click on the following clip
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!