Ugadi being celebrated with traditional fervor

Imphal/Puducherry, Apr 7 : Ugadi, the New Year's Day for people in southern, western and north eastern India, is being celebrated with people offering prayers at temples and greeting friends and relatives.

While the people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka use the term Ugadi for this festival, the people of Maharashtra term the same festival as Gudi Padwa and observe on the same day, Sindhis celebrate the day as their New Year day, Cheti Chand.

It is also believed that the creator of the Hindu pantheon Lord Brahma started creation on this day, Chaitra Suddha Padhyami or Ugadi Day.

The great Indian Mathematician Bhaskaracharya's calculations proclaimed the Ugadi Day from sunrise on as the beginning of the new year, new month and new day.

President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh greeted the people of the country on the occasion of traditional New Year celebrations in various parts of the country.

In Manipur, the New Year Day is celebrated with traditional fervor.

In Puducherry, cultural programmes were organized. Lt Governor Bhopinder Singh wished that the New Year usher in peace and prosperity through good health and success in the lives of the people.

Puducherry based Andhra Maha Sabha will hold a function later in the evening on the occasion, where the Sabha president, Dr V Nallam who recently received the French government sponsored Chevalier De Legion DHonneur, the highest civilian award of France will be felicitated.

ANI