The people of Karnataka consider Ugadi to be an auspicious time for commencing new projects and ventures. This is the time when New Year’s Day is celebrated in the states of Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. While it is called Ugadi in AP and Karnataka and Gudipadawa in Maharashtra.
The term Ugadi has its origin in the Sanskrit word which means starting of a New Yuga or a period. This traditional festival is celebrated in the second half of March or in early April. People from all over Karnataka celebrate this festival with much enthusiasm and gaiety. The popular legend is associated with festival is that the Lord Brahma has started creation of the vast universe on the auspicious day of Ugadi.
Lord Brahma created the days, weeks, months and years in order to count time and then created all the other elements present in the universe. Ugadi marks the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar and it is a day when mantras are chanted and predictions made for a new year. The most important thing in the festival is the Panchanga Shravanam which means the hearing of the Panchanga.
Houses are cleaned thoroughly and people buy new clothes for themselves and for their family members to celebrate the festival of Ugadi. On Ugadi day people wake up before the day of dawn and take a head bath. People also splash cow dung water before the house and draw colorful floral designs. The entrance of the house is decorated with fresh mango leaves. The main dish which is prepared is Bevu Bella, which is actually a paste made from jaggery, neem buds, tamarind juice and raw mango.
