Yugadi
By Varija Yelagalawadi
Yugadi is significant for both its bountiful nature and historical import. Yugadi is the first day of the year according to Bharats (India) National Calendar. On this day, there are many festivities taking place. Prasad (Holy offerings) is made out of neem (lemon) and jaggery. It is served to everyone. Mixing neem, which is very bitterand jaggery, which is very sweet, signifies two very important and conflicting aspects of life.
 Sri Krishna Says...Duhkheshwanudvignamanaah Sukheshu vigatasprihah | Not being agitated in sorrow, and free from desire for pleasure, sensual attachments, fear and anger - such a person is called |
By mixing neem and jaggery together shows the joy and sorrow, success and failure, and the good and the bad of life.The combination is exchanged between friends to symbolize renewed warmth and love to overcome the difficulties of life. It is also an occasion to forgive old debts and forget old disputes. This year (2006), Yugadi falls on Thursday, March 30th.
On Yugadi day in 1889, the great founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar (Doctorji) was born. Even as a little child, no one could refuse the fact that he had a spirit of patriotism. He grew up during the time of the British Raj (British rule) of Bharat. He asked the elders of Nagpur (where he was born and brought up) questions that amazed them. They were quite surprised that such small child could ask questions like, How is it that these people who live hundreds of miles away come and become our masters, our leaders? How can we listen to them?
He grew up to be a doctor but was still very concerned about Bharat. After many months of thinking, he decided that the nation had an absence of national awareness. To cure this, he made up his mind on creating an organization that would make the nation aware of things that were going on around them. He created a way to achieve his goal. On Vijayadashmi Day in 1925, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was born. Due to this, and the fact that Yugadi is the first day of the year according to National Calendar of Bharat, Sangh has made Yugadi an utsav (festival).