Ugadi!

Thursday was another holiday - Ugadi, the Telugu New Year. Not as big of a deal as Holi, but still very interesting and fun. Ugadi literally means “the start of a new year,” and it is believed that the creator of the Hindu pantheon, Lord Brahma started creation on this day. People spring clean their houses on this day and decorate them with garlands of mango leaves (this was done in the cafeteria). Also, Ugadi happens to be an occasion for many sales and for people to buy new clothes! Everyone dressed up to work – the girls wore beautiful sarees and bangles of very bright colors and elaborate designs, and wished each other a Happy Ugadi. Also, I tried some Ugadi Pachhadi, which is a mixture of (according to the Hyderabad Times) neeem flowers, jaggery, raw mango, tamarind juice, green chilies and salt. If it sounds like a weird combination, let me assure you it is. I had just a teaspoonful – it wasn’t bad, just very very different! The mixture of different tastes in this crazy concoction is supposed to represent the mixture of all the things in your life – sweetness, sorrow, triumph, suffering, etc.