Mangalore: Coastal People Celebrate Ugadi with Fervour
Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RD/CN)
Mangalore, Mar 27: Ugadi, the Hindu New Year, was ushered in by the people of the coastal districts on Friday March 27.
Celebrations were held at the Sri Kalikamba Vinayaka Temple in Car Street with great fervour and devotion. The rituals began early on Friday and the temple flag was hoisted at 12.20 pm.
A large number of devotees are expected to attend the Ugadi Mahotsav that will be held from Friday March 27 to Sunday April 5. A special puja will be held through the night of Thursday April 2 till early morning on Friday March 3, that will be attended by Swamijis from all over the undivided DK district.
Free lunch in the form of ‘prasadam’ will be offered to all devotees during the seven days of Ugadi celebrations.
Sri Kalikamba Vinayaka temple managing trustee K Keshav Acharya, as well as trustees M Vishwanath Acharya and K Ramesh Acharya are actively involved in the celebrations.
It’s the practice in every household across the district to place new dresses, jaggery, and neem leaves at the altar of the home deity on Ugadi before partaking of a sumptuous lunch and savour sweet dishes such as payasam. The womenfolk offer puja and distribute prasadam fondly to every family member.
Ugadi has special significance even in nature as the trees yield a wide variety of flowers and fruits during the season. It is a time for the people to look forward to a prosperous new year with hope and joy.