Ugadi, or Telugu New Year, was celebrated in style by the New Zealand Telugu Association (NZTA) in Auckland. Ugadi, or Yugadi (‘Yug’ means period and ‘Adi’ means beginning), is celebrated to commemorate the day when Lord Brahma created the entire universe.
The event Ugadi Uthsavam 2023 on April 1, 2023, was a joyous occasion that saw hundreds of Telugu as well as non-Telugu community members coming together to welcome the New Year.
The atmosphere was festive and filled with joy as people mingled, danced, and enjoyed the delicious food. The event was attended by nearly 800 members.
Many dignitaries were also in attendance during the event at Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Eden Terrace. Guests included National Party MP Melissa Lee, New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA) President Narendra Bhana, Auckland Indian Association INC (AIAI) President Dhansukh Lal, Bhartiya Samaj Chairperson Jeet Suchdev, Auckland Tamil Association President Vai Ravindran and Auckland Marathi Association President Neha Nalawade among others.
The celebrations started with Ugadi ‘pooja’ (prayer) offered by Shri Pandit Manikandan Rajani of Thiru Subramaniyar Alayam Temple in Mangere to seek blessings for the new year. All the special invitees, NZTA’s executive committee members, performers, and the audience entered the auditorium by chanting prayers offered to the almighty.
This was followed by the lighting of the lamps and prayers offered to lord Ganesha to pay tributes to Mother Telugu (Telugu Talli).
It was followed by cultural performances, including from members of the community aged 5 to 60 years showcasing their talent in various art forms, and the audience was captivated by their performances.
Interestingly, for the first time in New Zealand a performance using ‘Parai’, a traditional drum and rhythmic instrument, was performed by Thiru Subramaniyar Alayam Temple and NZTA.
One of the attendees, Sunitha Itla, said, “Immersing people in cultures is what preserves the culture in a better way and preserving it is what allows others to experience it and experiencing it is what allows humanity to remember the things that make us all human. We have had an opportunity to learn about the usage of the Parai instrument and were able to perform a bit of what we learned during a short period during NZTA’s Ugadi celebrations. It was a lifetime experience to cherish and value.”
Rajeeva Moturu, one of the performers, said, "It was the first time I performed on the stage. Thank you to the whole team for giving me the opportunity. I enjoyed delicious food as well as some fantastic performances.”
NZTA President Suneel Kuncha expressed his happiness at the event's success. He thanked the community for their participation and support and said such events help to promote the Telugu culture in New Zealand.
“We hope this event will strengthen the Telugu community's bonds in Auckland and allow everyone to learn about our rich cultural heritage. It was a wonderful way to welcome the New Year and to reinforce the bonds of friendship and unity within the community," he said.
The event concluded with guests relishing ‘Ugadi Pachadi’, a traditional Telugu feast made with six different tastes, namely sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and spicy, which is symbolic of the six different emotions that one experiences in life.
Established in 1998 to maintain the culture of the Telugu people, the NZTA has been actively promoting Telugu culture in New Zealand and organising cultural events for the Telugu community.