Ugadi / Gudi Padwa (Vikram Samvat 2083)

 Ugadi / Gudi Padwa (Vikram Samvat 2083): The Many Flavours of Time and the Wisdom of Renewal

Today, March 19, 2026, as we celebrate the new year—Ugadi in Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, and Gudi Padwa here in Maharashtra, now home to our family in Mumbai—I find myself drawn into a quiet reflection on time, memory, and the profound wisdom embedded in our festivals and the sociocultural traditions they represent.

Ugadi / Gudi Padwa marks not merely the beginning of a calendar year (Vikram Samvat 2083), but the renewal of life itself. Tradition associates this day with the victory of Emperor Vikramaditya over the Sakas and the beginning of a new era. Across regions, the forms of celebration may differ, yet the underlying message remains constant—to welcome the year with optimism and to accept, with equanimity, the joys and sorrows that life inevitably brings.

This year, that sentiment feels especially personal. I hope that this Ugadi brings some healing to my wife, who continues to grieve the loss of her beloved father, less than a month ago.

At the same time, today’s global context weighs heavily on the mind. News of the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran—now deep into its third week—brings with it images of destruction, loss of lives and livelihoods, and growing uncertainty. The targeting of energy infrastructure and its cascading effects on the global economy, including India, serve as stark reminders of how interconnected and fragile our world is. As millions celebrate the new year, one cannot but hope that wisdom prevails and that this conflict finds a peaceful resolution.

Ugadi, derived from Yugadi—the beginning of a new age—is deeply rooted in the lunisolar rhythms of the Indian calendar. It is believed to be the day when Lord Brahma began the creation of the universe. In that sense, every Ugadi embodies both an ending and a beginning—a moment of renewal infused with hope and continuity.

Yet, not all beginnings arrive in unalloyed joy.

The present moment brings back memories of Ugadi in 2020—just six years ago—when the world stood at the threshold of an unprecedented crisis. On March 24, 2020, the announcement of a nationwide lockdown marked the beginning of a period that would profoundly alter lives across the globe. The following day, Ugadi ushered in not only a new year but also the first day of that historic lockdown.

I remember that day vividly.

Mumbai—the city that never sleeps—had fallen into an unfamiliar silence. Streets were empty, trains halted, airports closed, and an entire nation retreated indoors. Like millions of others, I remained within the confines of our staff quarters at the Nehru Science Centre in Worli, watching unfolding events on television, trying to comprehend the scale of what lay ahead.

Yet, even in that moment of uncertainty, the day began as it always had—with the quiet insistence of tradition. An oil bath infused with neem leaves, followed by the Ugadi puja performed by my wife, with my passive participation. In the midst of global anxiety, we turned instinctively to rituals that had endured for centuries.

The preparation of bevu-bella—a mixture of neem (bitter), jaggery (sweet), along with tamarind and raw mango—became more than a customary offering. It became a metaphor for life itself.

At that moment, none of us could have fully grasped how prophetic that symbolism would prove to be.

The years that followed brought the bitterness of loss, isolation, and uncertainty. Families were separated, countless lives were lost, and the world witnessed suffering on an extraordinary scale. Yet, alongside this bitterness came unexpected sweetness—the resilience of communities, acts of kindness, the tireless service of frontline workers, and a renewed appreciation for human connection.

Like the bevu-bella, life revealed itself in its many flavours.

Looking back, what strikes me most is the depth of philosophical insight embedded in our traditions. Festivals like Ugadi do not merely celebrate; they prepare us. They remind us, with quiet clarity, that life is neither uniformly sweet nor permanently bitter—it is an ever-evolving blend to be accepted with balance and grace.

Even in that uncertain moment in 2020, I had written with hope—that collective prayers might mark the beginning of the end of the crisis. The journey, as we now know, was far longer and more arduous. Yet humanity endured. Science advanced, vaccines emerged, and slowly, the world found its way forward.

In many ways, the pandemic became a civilisational pause—forcing us to reflect on our vulnerabilities, our interdependence, and the delicate balance between progress and nature.

Today, six years later, as we step into Ugadi 2026, we are once again confronted by a global crisis—this time one of human making. The unfolding conflict in the Gulf region, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, has once again highlighted how deeply interconnected our world is. A significant portion of global energy flows through this narrow passage, and any disruption has immediate consequences across continents.

Rising oil prices, strained supply chains, and growing economic uncertainty are not abstract developments—they directly affect the everyday lives of millions. Beyond these material impacts lies a deeper concern: the continued loss of human lives and the erosion of stability.

In many ways, this moment feels hauntingly familiar.

Just as in 2020 we hoped that a brief lockdown might contain a global crisis, today too we are confronted with uncertainty—how long will this conflict endure, and at what cost?

There is, however, a crucial difference. The pandemic was a challenge imposed by nature. The present crisis is a consequence of human action.

And perhaps that is where the timeless wisdom of Ugadi becomes even more relevant.

The bevu-bella we partake today is not merely a symbol of life’s inevitable mix of joy and sorrow—it is also a reminder of choice. While we may not always control the bitterness that comes our way, we can choose whether to perpetuate it.

On this auspicious beginning of Chaitra, it is only fitting that our prayers extend beyond personal well-being to embrace the larger world.

May wisdom prevail over impulse.
May dialogue replace destruction.
May restraint overcome retaliation.

And may leaders across the world be guided by a deeper sense of responsibility to humanity.

For if there is one lesson that both the pandemic and the present crisis teach us, it is this: the cost of delayed wisdom is always borne by ordinary people.

On this Ugadi and Gudi Padwa, let us therefore not only celebrate renewal, but also reflect—and pray—for peace that is enduring, for conflicts that find resolution, and for a world that chooses creation over destruction.

May this new year mark not just the passage of time, but a turning point towards collective good.

Ugadi Habbada Shubhashayagalu.
Gudi Padwa Shubhechha.

Let peace prevail.
And may this new year bring not just prosperity, but perspective.

I am sharing below the blog I wrote on that day in 2020—a personal account of a world on the brink of the unknown in the year 2020 on the eve of the Gudi Padva / Ugadi.

https://khened.blogspot.com/2020/03/ugadi-new-year-prayers-for-end-of-covid.html