Date:04/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/04/stories/2008040455810800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

No unanimity on Ugadi date

Special Correspondent

Ambiguity mars inauguration of the subsidised rice scheme

HYDERABAD: Uncertainty prevails over the actual day marked for Ugadi celebrations in the State this year.

A consensus is eluding scholars over the exact date of Ugadi, the first day of Telugu new year — Sarvadhari, with some of them suggesting April 7 while others opposed this and proposed April 8 instead, going by the specifications of stars and planetary positions.

Based on the advice offered by the Endowments Department, the government, indeed, printed April 7 as Ugadi day in its calendar. This has been contested by a number of scholars who want the festival to be celebrated a day later —April 8. There is, however, a third school which advocated a synthesis — celebrations on both days.

The ambiguity about the date marred a scheduled programme of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. He wanted to inaugurate the subsidised rice scheme on April 7 but in view of the present lack of unanimity over the date, postponed the event to April 9. Sources in the Endowment Department said there is a similar lack of clarity about Sriramanavami too.

The government calendar specified April 14 (which is Ambedkar Jayanti day) as Sriramanavami day.