Mangalore: City all set to herald ‘Bitter Sweet’ Ugadi 

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
 
Mangalore, Apr 6: The city of Mangalore is all set to welcome ‘Ugadi’ or ‘Chandramana Ugadi’ a festival which heralds in the beginning of a Kannada New Year. It is considered as a new Hindu lunar calendar and therefore celebrated all over Karnataka with traditional fervor and gusto.

The word 'Ugadi' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Yugadi' which means the 'beginning of a new Yuga or era'. This time around the festival falls on Monday April 7. 

Ugadi also marks the approach of spring season with Mother Nature bursting forth in all her glory and bounty. Flowers are in full colourful bloom and expansive tracts of green paddy fields dot the landscape filling the hearts of people with joy and contentment.  

All over the city preparations have already began in full swing well in advance, with people cleaning their houses, shopping for new clothes, jewellery, mango leaves, neem flowers and different condiments to prepare the festival delicacies.   

The day will begin with people wishing each other all happiness. It will also be marked with a customary visit to the local temples to listen to the ancient 'slokas', read out aloud by the temple priests thereby invoking the blessings of the deity with prayers.

As per custom on this auspicious day the devout get-up at the crack of dawn and have a ritual oil bath. Then they decorate the entrance of the house with fresh mango leaves and draw attractive ‘rangolis.’ Some residents also splash fresh cow-dung water on the front yard of their house. The string of green mango leaves tied to the doorway signify a good crop and general well being.

Another unique feature of the festival is the "Ugadi Pachchadi" delicacy made from neem flowers, mango juice, honey, sugar (jaggery) and other ingredients. Another delicacy ‘Bevu Bella’ made of jaggery and neem, is tasted on this day to impress upon all that life is a mixture of happiness and sadness and must be dealt with in a state of equanimity.

On the festive occasion of ‘Ugadi’ we had Daijiworld wish all our readers, friends and well-wishers a very Happy and Prosperous Ugadi.