Ugadi is a traditional new-year observance important in parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Homes are decorated, special foods are prepared, families gather and the new year is welcomed with hope.
Ugadi Pachadi — The Symbolic Mixture
Ugadi is especially associated with Ugadi Pachadi, a symbolic mixture containing six contrasting flavors:
Neem flowers (bitter), jaggery (sweet), raw mango (tangy), tamarind (sour), salt (savory) and chili (spicy).
The pachadi reminds people that life itself contains sweetness, bitterness, surprise and complexity — and that all must be embraced.
Panchanga Sravanam
Temples and family gatherings feature the reading of the panchanga — the almanac predictions for the new year.
Homes are decorated with mango leaves and rangoli. New clothes are worn. Traditional food is prepared.