Ugadi Pachadi | The Traditional Start to the Telugu New Year

Ugadi, the Telugu New Year, is a time to celebrate with family and friends. The one thing I always look forward to this day is my share of Ugadi Pachadi; apart from the Pulihora, Bobbattlu, and other goodies, of course! 🙂

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Sarve Janah Sukhino Bhavantu!  

About Ugadi Pachadi

Ugadi Pachadi is very unique to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and it is the first thing we eat on Ugadi. This pachadi incorporates the six tastes found in nature; sweet, sour, tangy, spicy, bitter, and salty. Called Shadruchulu in Telugu, these six tastes represent the various experiences we have in life, and having Ugadi Pachadi on New Year reminds us that we should face life with equanimity.

In my home, this pachadi is made by just dissolving salt, jaggery and tamarind pulp in water and then adding small mango pieces and neem flowers. The belief is that which ever taste predominates, life will be like that for the next year. 🙂 There is another variant in which all ingredients are ground together and the belief that powers this version is life is a mélange of is all tastes.

Either way, eating Ugadi Pachadi is THE way to start the Telugu New Year in most traditional Andhra homes. It is first offered as Naivedyam to the Gods and then served to the family.

How to Serve and Savour the Ugadi Pachadi

Typically, it is the oldest person in the family or the home who serves the Ugadi Pachadi to all.

The first step is to mix the Pachadi well before serving each person and then immediately spooning a portion into the receiver’s palm without looking at the ingredients being served. The idea is to not to choose ingredients and consequently try to influence events of the coming year.

In my home, the people receiving the Ugadi Pachadi do so with their eyes closed. They do not open their eyes till they have eaten all of their share of the pachadi. They then open their eyes and tell us what tastes were pre-dominant and sometimes, the order in which they tasted the various flavours. 

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Other Recipes for Ugadi, the Telugu New Year

On Ugadi, we traditionally have a full meal that could include dishes like:

• Chintapandu Pulihora | Puliyodarai | Tamarind Rice
• Mamidikaya Pappu | Andhra Raw Mango Dal | Aam Dal | Kairi Dal
• Bellam Paramannam | Andhra Rice and Jaggery Kheer
• Bobbattu, Obbattu, Puran Poli, or Holige
• Poornam Boorelu | Poornalu | Sukrunde

How to Make the Ugadi Pachadi

The most important part is gathering the ingredients that represent the six tastes. Here is a list of ingredients for Ugadi Pachadi (along with alternatives):

1. Sweet: We use jaggery in my home. People also use finely chopped sugarcane or even bits of ripe banana. 1 tbsp Jaggery/Gud – Grated fine
2. Sour: 1 tsp Tamarind Pulp
3. Tangy: 2 tbsp raw (unripe) mango; cut to very small pieces with skin
4. Spicy: 2 Green Chillies cut to very small pieces. Alternatively, you could use 1/4 tsp Red Chilly Powder as well.
5. Bitter: 8-10 neem flowers
6. Salty: 1/4 tsp salt

Of course, then there is the neutral water that binds it all together.

1. To a bowl, add 1 tbsp finely grated jaggery (or 1 tbsp finely chopped sugarcane), 2 finely chopped green chillies (or 1/2 tsp red chilly powder), 1/2 tsp tamarind pulp, 2 tbsp finely chopped raw mango, 1/4 tsp fresh neem flowers, and 1/4 tsp salt.
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2. Now add 1/2 cup water.
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3. Mix all ingredients well till the jaggery and salt dissolve.
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4. Offer the Ugadi Pachadi to the Gods as Naivedyam.
5. Serving the Ugadi Pachadi
   1. Using a spoon mix the pachadi well and then scoop up one teaspoon and serve without looking at the ingredients. The idea is that you scoop up and serve a portion that has an equal chance of having all ingredients.

Recipe for Ugadi Pachadi

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Ugadi Pachadi | Heralding the Telugu New Year

Aruna

Ugadi Pachadi is a mix of 6 ingredients that represent each of the 6 universal tastes: sweet, sour, spicy, salty, tangy, and bitter.

This dish is the first thing we eat on the Telugu New Year and the flavours we taste are said to represent the experiences of the year to follow.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Andhra, Gluten Free, Indian, South Indian, Telangana, Vegan, Vegetarian

Equipment

• Bowl
• Spoon
• Chopping Board
• Knife

Ingredients

  

• 1 tbsp Jaggery (Grated Fine) Alternative is 1 tbsp peeled and finely chopped sugarcane
• 1-2 Green Chillies (Chopped Fine) Alternative is 1/4 tsp red chilli powder
• 1/2 tsp Tamarind Pulp
• 1 tbsp Raw Mango (Finely Chopped)
• 1/4 tsp Neem Flowers
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/2 Cup Water

Instructions

 

• To a bowl, add 1 tbsp finely grated jaggery (or 1 tbsp finely chopped sugarcane), 2 finely chopped green chillies (or 1/4 tsp red chilly powder), 1/2 tsp tamarind pulp, 1 tbsp finely chopped raw mango, 1/4 tsp fresh neem flowers, and 1/4 tsp salt.
• Now add 1/2 cup water and mix all ingredients well till the jaggery and salt dissolve.
• Offer the Ugadi Pachadi to the Gods as Naivedyam.

Serving the Ugadi Pachadi

• Using a spoon mix the pachadi well and then scoop up one teaspoon and serve without looking at the ingredients. The idea is that you scoop up and serve a portion that has an equal chance of having all ingredients.

Keyword Shadruchulu, Telugu New Year, Ugadi Pachadi

Tried this recipe?Do let me know how you liked it @aahaaram or tag #aahaaram!