Ugadi is New Year’s Day for all the Hindus of Karnataka, Maharashtra (Gudi Padwa), Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana states in India. It is observed in these regions on the first day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Chaitra... The name Yugadi or Ugadi is derived from Sanskrit words yuga means age and ādi means beginning (“the beginning of a new age”). This occasion is celebrated all over the world by people from different parts of the society come forward to take part in this celebration. This is the day when Lord Brahma (the Creator of the world) started the creation.

The festival of Ugadi marks the beginning of New Year for people living between Kaveri River and Vindhyas and those who follow the lunar calendar of South India particularly in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh. In Maharashtra this is celebrated as Gudi Padwa.

The Lunar calendars have cycle of sixty years and a New Year starts on the day of Yugadi on Chaitra Sudhdha Paadyami. After the completion of every sixty year the calendar starts with a fresh New Year. During the festival spring season is believed to have arrived at its fullest and every where the colors of festivals can be seen and enjoyed. New leaves budding on the trees look amazingly beautiful and utmost zeal and excitement can been seen in the hearts of people celebrating Ugadi.  On Ugadi day Lord Vishnu when took the form of Matsya. On the day of Ugadi people clean their house and the nearby area and decorate the entrance of their house with mango leaves. And also people buy new clothes for them and all their family members.

The New Year day starts at the dawn, out of the expectation that starting the New Year by looking at auspicious things will bring good luck throughout the year. The auspicious things are gold and silver jewelry, betel leaves, nuts, fruits and vegetables, flowers, raw rice and coconuts. It is followed by people having a ritual bath and then they pay visit to the temple to pray for a happy and prosperous New Year.

After this, the Panchangam sravanam is also read and have a spontaneous food with lot of rice varieties and sweets. They also make Ugadi Pacchadi with consists of 6 tastes. Ugadi pachadi, is a type of preparation that everyone needs to eat.

It is known as Bevu Bella in Karnataka. It is believed that the new life or the New Year you enter in is a mixture of joyous as well as sad moments. As such, an individual ought to face both and carry on with life as it comes along in life. Keeping this in mind, the Ugadi pachadi is prepared. It is a concoction of jaggery as well as neem leaves. While neem leaves impart the bitter taste, jaggery makes it sweet. So, it signifies both bitter as well as joyous experiences.

Happy Ugadi!! & Happy Gudi Padwa!! Everybody!!!