Ugadi ...

Ugadi … is a Hindu festival to welcome new year … new year according Hindu Lunar calendar. The day when Moon’s orbit changes … I am a believer of this festival … it brings out the basic essence of life … The new year starts with sunrise, not in the midnight. On this day people wake up before sunrise, wear new clothes, light oil lamps at the door steps to welcome new year. Later they cook variety of food and sweets, and enjoy with their families. But, the important tradition is to eat neem leaves with jaggery (solidified molasses or not-polished sugar). This is to remind us that the coming new year may bring fortune and misfortune as well. And eating the neem leaves with jaggery is to convey our preparedness to embrace both and live happily. What a wisdom ?

FYI ... neem is a tree native of South India. Its leaves are very bitter and have medicinal values. It is so bitter that even ghosts do not live on this tree :)