About Yugadi / Ugadi:
The name Yugadi or Ugadi is derived from the Sanskrit words yuga (age) and ādi (starting) – ‘the beginning of a new age’.
Ugadhi (Telugu New Year) is celebrated as the first day of the year by people of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. On this day new Samvatsara (New Year), which is cycle of sixty years, starts. All sixty Samvatsara are identified by unique name.
Ugadi is celebrated as Gudi Padwa by the people of Maharashtra. Both Ugadi and Gudi Padwa are celebrated on the same day.
Ugadi is New Year according to Luni-Solar calendar. Luni-Solar calendars consider the position of the Moon and the position of the Sun to divide the year into months and days. The counter-part of Luni-Solar calendar is Solar calendar which considers only position of the Sun to divide the year into months and days.
History about Yugadi / Ugadi
The legend behind this festival is that Lord Brahma created the universe on Ugadi.
The nine day long spring festival of Vasanta Navratri (Chaitra Navratri) begins on this day and concludes on Ram Navami. It is believed that the creator – Lord Brahma has started creation on this day – ‘Chaitra Suddha Padhyami’ or the Ugadi day.
According to the Indian Mathematician Bhaskaracharya’s astronomical calculations in the 12th century also determined the date of Ugadi from the sunrise on as the beginning of the New Year, new month and new day.