MONTH OF FESTIVITIES UGADI & RAMADAN

April month is full of festivals. It marks the beginning of the Hindu new year followed by several auspicious occasions for several people. The second week of April has been a one of its kind for Indians. This week housed multiple festivals of two different religions and celebrations were going through the roof. It holds various Hindu festivals like Ugadi, Gudipadwa etc. It also holds various festivals of other communities like Ramadan/EID for Muslims, Baisakhi for Sikhs.

All of these festivals hold unique significance, folklore and beliefs in the culture. Ugadi marks the beginning of the Hindu new year i.e., the first day of the Chaitra month, according to the Hindu Lunisolar calendar (Panchanga). It fell on April 9, 2024. This festival is celebrated in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and Goa. The same day is celebrated by Hindus in the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, with a different name, Gudipadwa. Ugadi is the amalgamation of two different words: ‘Yug’(age) and ‘Adi’(beginning), denoting the start of a new age.