Controversy over Telugu new year reaches AP CM

​Amaravati: The differences on which day Ugadi festival falls finally reached tech savvy Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s court. An argument has been going on among panchangam (almanac) experts and seers on whether the Telugu new year falls on March 28 or March 29.

Noted pundits, including two prominent peetams, Srungeri and Kanchipeetam, also differed on the date of festival. Naturally, this is also causing confusion among Telugus in two states and abroad.

A group of noted pundits and astrologers led by astrologer Ponnaluri Srinivasa Gargeya, Kanchi peetam pundit L Subramanya Siddhanti met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday on the issue and requested him to announce the Ugadi date as March 28. The group arrived at the date based on Dhrug Ganitha methodology. These pundits say the system has been accepted by the Union government.

But the astrologers who are following the Poorva Ganitha System fixed the Ugadi on March 29. Interestingly, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) panchangam mentions Ugadi date as March 29. Contradicting it, the prominent Kanchi peetam conducted a meet in Vijayawada with noted pundits and astrologers and announced that Ugadi falls on March 28.

TTD panchangakarta also took part in the meeting, said Srinivas Gargeya. Speaking to The Hans India, he said the Union government has been printing the Panchangam for the last 63 years and it had declared Ugadi falls on March 28.

According Dhrug Ganitha pundits, states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana celebrate Ugadi as an important festival though with different names. All the states, except Telangana, declared holiday on March 28, Gargeya said. However, the AP government is yet to declared holiday.

Actor-turned legislator Nandamuri Balakrishna's personal astrologer Karuparthi Nagamalleswara Rao and some others supported March 28 but Srungeri Peetam, TTD and some others fixed March Ugadi on 29. Even Kanchi Peetam announced the Ugadi Muhurtham after debating with pundits but heads of Srungeri Peetam are maintaining silence, said Gargeya.

On the other hand, the Panchangams led by two groups decided the 18 important Telugu festivals differently. As per the panchangams, the people of Andhra Pradesh should celebrate 18 festivals on two different days in the current year. The common people and followers of panchangam are getting confused about the controversies.

Astrologers and pundits are seeking the clarity on this issue by appointing a committee or conducting a meet with pundits and astrologers.