Ugadi Pachhadi/ Ugadi Chutney is also known by some other names such as UgadiGojju, Ugadi Rasayana.
On the day of the Ugadi festival after taking the bath, the Chutney is prepared and offered to God as naivedya. Then it is taken as the first intake of the day with the fond hope that the forthcoming year would be joyful.
Ugadi Pachhadi (chutney)
The moment you think of Ugadi, then comes instantly to anybody’s thoughts is “Ugadi pachhadi”.
Ugadi Chutney is a combination of six tastes –
- sweet
- sour
- acrid
- bitter
- salty
- spicy.
A chutney which is a combination of the above six tastes will, of course, be palatable.
For sweetness, people add jaggery (some use sugar instead),
for sourness, ripe tamarind is used,
for acrid taste, tender grated mango is used,
for bitterness the flowers of margosa [neem] tree or the tender leaves of the same tree.
Salt and for spiciness, green chilies are used. Each of these tastes is representative of different experiences– sweet is for comfort, bitterness is for misery.
Similarly, the other tastes also represent different moods and experiences of life. The obvious concept is that we should accept life as a mixture of different moods and experiences. It is in a way to prepare ourselves for such phases in the forthcoming year.
Mixing up the green mangoes, neem flowers, fresh jaggery, tamarind, chilly, and salt, the Ugadi Pachhadi is made to reflect the six tastes of life which are the spokes of happiness and sadness.
However, keeping this aside, it is mentioned in Ayurveda that, consuming this pachhadi on Ugadi day will remove phlegm, gas, and many other health problems.
- Neem acts as an antiseptic, and antibacterial. It also removes skin diseases.
- Raw Mango cures the defects in blood circulation in the body.
- Tamarind helps in digestion.
- New jaggery reduces the heat in the body.
- Chilly cures an earache, and throat swelling.
- Salt restricts the growth of fat in veins.
Normally this chutney is made in new earthen pots and hence keeps the body cool. Some people also add pieces of sugarcane and banana to the chutney.
