Our First Ugadi

"Ugadi" is New Year per Hindu almanac. yuga+aadi, yuga is era, aadi means start thus meaning start of an era. It marks the onset of spring, the first season of the year, hence also heralding a new year and a new beginning. (remember the Yuga Yugadi kaledaru Yugadi marali barutide song?.. ah... so fresh that is!)

This is the first Ugadi after I'm married. Typically the newly wed couple are invited by the girl's parents to celebrate the festival in their house. But for me, the first Ugadi goes back to....

It was the year Hero had proposed.... he wanted us to meet as it was OUR first Ugadi. Since he was working that day, we'd planned to meet in the evening at Forum. Just to surprise him, I thought i'll try something new and planned to wear a saree... Now, atleast people from my planet know how difficult it is to manage one! So, when I was busy fidgeting with it, I get some 10 calls. (And since it was those days when I'd not declared anything at home, I had to keep it a top secret that I was going to meet a friend on a festival day). So, I ignore the calls as I'm already late. and just when i'm out of my house and wait to take an auto, I get a call from the angry Hero telling he has enough work to do, he is heading back from the office bus stand assuming i'm busy. I was like, huh! okaaaiii fine, I thought i'll surprise you and blah blah blah... blup... I hang up... just in 2 secs, another call, I'm starting now, will be there in half an hour... and I went to Forum Mall all red faced... Hero comes, 15 min late and hands me a single looooong white flower with a sheepish grin. (u know the flower which is normally used along with other flowers to decorate a bouquet?). I was a little puzzled, i'd not seen anyone buying that flower, but u know guys right? so.... u never know! but later, when I heard the story, I was all smiles :) :) :)...

Apparently, when Hero reached Forum, it was as it is late and he went in search for a florist. And since he did not find any, he went and offered the receptionist a deal. That, he would buy her 2 day old bouquet which was kept on her desk for the original price as it was a total emergency situation... (I still don't believe he did that!). That lady bluntly declined the offer (ha ha ha I can imagine what she'd be thinking :-?) but asked him to pick a flower if he wished. Since all other flowers were pretty old, he had to pick this flower with a sly smile :-)

and, that was the story of OUR First Ugadi :-)

This year, the year we are actually married, he isn't around to celebrate it... :-(

You know, a unique aspect of ugadi is the distribution of Neem and Jaggery (its called “Bevu-Bella”). It symbolizes the fact that life is a mixture of different experiences (sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise) , which should be accepted together and with equanimity.... and that explains... :)

Happy Ugadi to ALL of you :-)

and Mr Husband, ningunu :-)